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BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. SHORTHAND TOM, THE REPORTER. 
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The young electrician was thoroughly interested 46 



/ 


WOEKma UPWARD SERIES 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN 

6 /S' 

FRANKLIN BELL’S SUCCESS 


BY 

EDWARD STRATEMEYER 

AUTHOR OF “ SHORTHAND TOM, THE REPORTER,” 
” THE YOUNG AUCTIONEER,” “ OLD GLORY 
SERIES,” ” COLONIAL SERIES,” ETC. 


ILLUSTRATED 



BOSTON 

LEE AND SHEPARD 
1903 


c^^yWvi J- 



THE library OF 
CONGRESS. 

Two Copies Received 

AUG 27 1903 

(\ Copyneht Entry 

/cfei 

CLASS Ol. XXa No. 

Iff'U ! J 

COPY A. 


Copyright, 1897, by W. L. Allison Co. 
Copyright, 1903, by Lee and Shepard. 


Bound to be an Eleotbician. 



Norfajofllj i 

Berwick & Smith Co., Norwood, Mass., U.S.A. 


PREFACE. 


“Bound to be an Electrician” forms the second 
volume of a line of juvenile stories called “The 
Working Upward Series.” 

The tale is complete in itself, and tells of the 
numerous adventures of a manly youth who deter- 
mines to become an electrician. Franklin Bell finds 
his road no easy one to travel, but he is full of pluck 
and quiet determination. His pluck gains for him 
the opening he seeks, and from that time on his ad- 
vancement is steady if not rapid. 

In this work I have, for the first time, taken my 
readers into the great factory life of our country, to 
show them how thousands of our boys, with scarcely 
any schooling, have to toil for their dailj^ living. 
The hero is cast among both the good and the bad, 
the tender-hearted and the vicious, and he is made to 
understand only too well that he must either fight 
his way through or go down in that pitiless struggle 
which never ceases. 


iv 


PREFACE. 


Again thanking my young readers for their cordial 
reception of former works, I place this story in their 
hands, in the earnest hope that its perusal will do 
them much good. 


Edward Stratemeyer. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER ' PAGE 

I. The Young Electrician 5 

II. Franklin Finds Employment 13 

III. Franklin Gets Into Difficulty 23 

IV. Franklin Makes a Friend 30 

V. Franklin Visits Edison’s Works 39 

VI. A Moment of Peril 47 

VII. A Lively Pursuit 55 

VIII. At Close Quarters 63 

IX. Enemies 69 

X. A Hard Place to Fill 75 

XI. Franklin Shows His Grit 82 

XII. A Plot Against Franklin 90 

XIII. The Broken Machine 97 

XIV. Harry LeCTair’s Statement 104 

XV. A Midnight Mystery 112 

XVI. Belden Brice Says Something 120 

XVH. Clues and a Confession 129 

XVHI. Franklin Makes a New Move 136 

XIX. The Meeting in the Cottage 14b 

XX. Andy Gresson is Astonished 152 

XXI. Franklin Bell’s Mission 159 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER. PAGE. 

XXII. Franklin Shows His Courage 167 

XXIII. Franklin Makes a New Friend 175 

XXIV. A Surprising Statement 183 

XXV. An Interesting Conversation 190 

XXVI. On Lake Michigan 197 

XXVII. A Meeting in a Strange City 204 

XXVIII. An Interesting Meeting 211 

XXIX. Franklin Decided to Act 218 

XXX. Franklin Shows His Pluck 225 

XXXI. A Battery Turns the Tables 232 

XXXII. The Dead Alive 238 

XXXIII. Conclusion 2^4 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

Page 

The young electrician was thoroughly interested 

{Frontispiece) 46 

The girls shrieked and the boys laughed ... 11 

Eranklin sprang over the fence at a bound . . 55 
<< Bell, come here and explain this at once . 96 


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BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN 


CHAPTER I. 

THE YOUNG ELECTRICIAN. 

Franklin !’’ called Mrs. Bell from the bottom 
of the stairs. 

“Yes, Aunt Martha.” 

“Are you not coming down? Charley Moore 
and Katie have come, and Will Charleigh has been 
here a quarter of an hour.” 

“In a minute, aunt; just as soon as I can get 
this new battery to work. There seems to be 
something the matter with the zinc plates, and I 
want to test them.” 

“Oh, dear, was there ever such a boy!” sighed 
Mrs. Bell, as she walked away from the stairs. 
“Ever since he visited Edison’s works at Llewellyn 
Park he has been crazy on the subject of electricity. 
He has two or three batteries in his room, and the 
shelf that used to hold his school books is filled 
with bottles of blue vitriol, sulphate of I don’t 
know what, and a lot of other trash. I declare, it 
makes me tired to see them littering up the place.” 


6 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN 


‘‘Yes, Will was telling me about Frank,” re- 
turned Mrs. Charleigh, who had come over to help 
Mrs. Bell at the party to be held by the young peo- 
ple. “He thinks Frank the smartest boy in 
Orange, and he has been at me and his pa to get 
him a battery and some sort of a telephone to put 
up from his bedroom window to Frank’s.” 

“I don’t know where he gets his liking for elec- 
tricity,” resumed Mrs. Bell, with a shake of her 
head. “I’m sure his father, who has been dead 
these ten years, never took any interest in that 
subject, and his mother died before batteries were 
known, excepting by doctors and such folks.’" 

“Well, we’re living in an age of progress, so Mr. 
Charleigh says, and I suppose the boys have got 
to move the same as the rest,” said Mrs. Char- 
leigh. “Now what do you want. Will?” she con- 
tinued, to her son, who had just touched her arm. 

“I would like to go up to Frank’s room, if Mrs. 
Bell will let me,” returned the boy, a curly-headed, 
manly-looking fellow of sixteen. 

“You can go, if you will promise to bring Frank 
down in five minutes,” replied Mrs. Bell. “Tell 
him it’s a shame to stay up there when the boys 
and girls are arriving just as fast as ever they 
can.” 

And Mrs. Bell darted off to welcome some new- 
comers. 

Will Charleigh bounded up the broad steps two 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN, 


at a time and burst into the little room at the end 
of the hallway. 

‘'I couldn’t wait any longer for you!” he cried. 
‘^All the guests are coming, and your aunt says 
you are to come down inside of five minutes, sure 
pop.” He paused to catch his breath. “What 
have you got there?” 

Franklin Bell answered without looking up. He 
was a serious-faced, determined-looking youth, of 
the same age as Will Charleigh. 

“This is a new gravity battery. Will, but, some- 
how, I can’t make the thing work. The zinc plates 
didn’t come, and I tried some of my old ones, but 
I guess they are so coated that I will have to 
scrape and wash them.” 

“What are you going to do with the battery? 
You have three others now.” 

“Not gravity batteries. That one is a Grove, 
the one in the corner is a bichromate, and the one 
by the window is a nickel-plating battery.” 

“You are talking Greek to me, Frank. I don’t 
understand ‘tudder from which,’ as the saying 
goes, excepting about the nickel-plating battery. 
What are you going to do with that ” 

“ Plate a number of things around the house,” 

“Can you do it?” 

“I have plated this old brass watch chain 
What do you think of that?” 

Will took the chain, which shone brightly, and 
examined rfc carefully. 


8 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN, 


"‘I declare, looks as if it just came from the 
jeweler’s,” he cried. I wish my brass watch case 
was plated like that.” 

‘^I’ll plate it for you if you will take the works 
out.” Franklin worked on in silence for a minute. 

There! now the battery appears to be all right.” 

‘‘Then you are ready to go below?” 

“Yes. After supper I intend to show the girls 
and boys some curious experiments and give them 
all a shock. Come ahead.” 

Frankhn Bell was an orphan, who had lived with 
his Uncle William ever since his father had died. 
The youth did not remember his mother, nor did 
he remember any home but that wFich he now pos- 
sessed. 

The Bells lived in a modest house on one of the 
side streets of the pretty city of Orange. Mr. Bell 
w'as a bookkeeper in a factory in New York. He 
had once been rich, but through the rascality of 
pretended friends his wealth had taken wings, and 
he was now compelled to work hard for every dol- 
lar he earned. 

Mr. William Bell had no sons, but he had five 
daughters, all of whom were younger than their 
cousin Franklin. There was Clara, aged fourteen ; 
Annie, Flossie, Daisy, and Baby Bess, just turning 
two. They all liked Franklin, and looked on him 
more as a big brother than anything else. 

Downstairs the front room and the hall were 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN 


9 


pretty well filled, and a buzz of conversation was 
going on. 

“Here is Frank now!” exclaimed Charley Moore, 
rushing forward. “ We have been waiting for you 
the longest while I Did you lose your collar button, 
or couldn’t you find your necktie?” 

There was a laugh from a number of girls at this, 
and Franklin, who was rather bashful, blushed. 

“ He’s been getting something ready to surprise 
you with,” said Will, coming to the rescue. 

“Surprise us” What with. Will? Do tell us!” 
exclaimed half a dozen girls simultaneously. 

Will Charleigh put on a most mysterious air. 

“I can’t do it,” he said, in a tragic whisper. 
“It’s a secret.” 

Just then Franklin’s cousin Clara sat down to 
the piano and began to play a polka, and those of 
the young people who knew how began to dance, 
while the others broke into little groups, some to 
talk and others to play games and look at the 
stereoptican views. 

Promptly at seven o’clock supper in the dining- 
roomand in the little conservatory annexed to it 
was announced. While the guests v/ere being seat- 
ed, Franklin slipped away and rushed upstairs. 

“Where are you going?” shouted his cousin 
Daisy after him. 

“You’ll find out in a minute,” he cried back. 
“Just go out to the table and wait.” 


10 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN, 


It was somewhat dark in the little conservatory 
on account of the many plants, and Will and 
Charley were sorry they had not placed lanterns 
around. They would make such a pretty effect 
amon^ the flowers. 

“I spoke about it, but Frank said not to mind,” 
explained Will. 

‘‘Well, it will be too dark to eat ” began Mrs. 

Bell. 

Then she stopped short and looked up into one 
of the large palms, from the branches of which a 
curious hissing sound issued. 

Then came a splutter, several flashes of Are, and 
in another second the little conservatory was 
illumined by half a dozen brilliant electric lights. 

What a shout went up ! “ Did you ever ! ” “ Isn’t 
it just lovely !” “ I never thought Frank could do 
it!” 

Will waved his handkerchief over his head. 

“ Hurrah for Franklin Bell!” he cried. 

And just as Franklin appeared once more the 
cheers were given vdth a will. 

The youth was so embarrassed he fairly sneaked 
into his seat, but he was hauled out by Will and 
made to acknowledge the cheers. 

The supper was a success, and after it was over 
every one felt in the best of humor. 

When most of the^young folks had grown tired 
of dancing Franklin brought down one of his bat- 


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11 


teries and allowed first the girls and then the boys 
to examine it, and he explained how it worked, 
getting so warmed to his subject that he actually 
delivered a little address. 

Then all present were told to join hands, the first 
person in the circle taking hold of one handle of 
the battery and the last person hold of the other, 
and then Franklin turned on the current gradually. 

The girls shrieked and the boys laughed as the 
strange sensation shot through them, and Will 
pretended to be electrified, as he termed it, and 
began to cut up a series of monkeyshines, which 
set everybody in a roar. 

‘‘I declare, they do go wild over it,” said Mrs. 
Bell, who stood in the hall doorway looking on. 

If only some accident don’t happen.” 

Franklin appears to be a very careful boy,” re- 
plied Mrs. Moore, who sat near. ‘‘Besides, I 
imagine those batteries are not strong enough to 
do any serious damage.” 

After everyone had had all the shocks desired, 
Franklin placed the battery to one side and 
brought forth several bottles, some glass, and a 
number of strips of metal. 

“Now I will show you something that has just 
been discovered,” he said. “We will place these 
bits of glass in a tumbler of water ” 

A violent ringing at the front door bell inter- 
rupted him. There was a hush as Mrs. Bell opened 
the door. 


12 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


Does Mr. William Bell live here?” asked a rather 
rough-looking man in a voice which was distinctly 
heard in the parlor. 

‘‘He does/’ replied Mrs. Bell, but he has not yet 
returned from New York, although I expect him 
every minute.” 

“I suppose you do, mum, but — but ” The 

man hesitated, and fumbled his hands in the 
pockets of his short coat. 

“But what?” questioned Mrs. Bell, shortly. 

“He’s been hurted, mum, on the railroad.” 

“Hurt? My husband hurt?” cried the woman, 
turning deadly pale. 

“Yes, mum. Not very bad, mum, but pretty 
bad, too. They told me to come ahead an’ tell 
you to have a place fixed for him. Here they are 
now, mum.” 

Mrs. Bell gave a shriek which brought Franklin 
to her side instantly. 

“Your uncle has been hurt, perhaps killed!” 
gasped the poor woman. “See, here they come 
now with him I” 

Mrs. Bell pointed down the street, and her breast 
heaved violently. 

Franklin looked in the direction, and by the rays 
from the electric light on the corner, saw several 
men approaching through the snow with a bag- 
gage truck, upon which lay a motionless form 
covered with a white cloth. 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


13 


CHAPTER II. 

FRANKLIN FINDS EMPLOYMENT. 

On the instant there was great excitement 
throughout the Bell family and their friends. All 
the games and the experiments with Franklin’s 
battery were forgotten, and everybody crowded to 
the front door. 

“Papa has been killed!” shrieked Daisy, and fell 
in a dead faint upon the hall settee. 

“No, mum, he is not killed,” said the man who had 
brought the sad news. “He is onl3^ badly hurted 
about the shoulders, mum.” 

Mrs. Bell was too dazed to speak or move as the 
men with the truck entered the yard and ap- 
proached the front piazza. 

Franklin drew a deep breath, thus trying to 
throw off some imaginary weight from his breast, 
and led his aunt into the parlor. 

“Will you show the men to my uncle’e< room?’' 
he said to Mrs. Charleigh. “It is the one in the 
front.” 

“Certainly,” was the reply. “Perhaps they wiU 
want bandages. Where can I find them ?” 


14 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


Clara will show you. Come, brace up, cousin. 
It may not be as bad as all of you imagine.” 

For the poor girl was weeping as if her heart 
would break. 

Mrs. Charleigh led the way up the stairs, and the 
men followed with Mr. Bell’s body. Clara came on 
behind, trying to dry her tears with her dainty 
handkerchief. 

“I wouldn’t all go up,” remonstrated Franklin, 
as the other four girls started to follow. ‘‘You 
had better stay here with your mother. Are you 
better, Daisy?” 

“Yes, but, oh! Frank, isn’t it simply dreadful!” 
burst out the girl. 

“Let us hope for the best.” He stroked his 
aunt’s hair. “There, there. Aunt Martha, I don’t 
believe it’s so very bad. The man said he was 
only hurt about the shoulders.” 

“Oh, Franklin! What shall we do? We must 
have a doctor.” 

“I’ll go for him,” put in Will, coming forward. 

“Get Doctor Noble if you can, and otherwise 
Doctor Vincent‘” said Mrs. Bell. 

A little later she and Franklin went up stairs, 
where Mr. Bell lay on the bed, still unconscious. 
The poor woman gave a cry and flung herself 
across her husband’s body. 

Franklin and Mrs. Charleigh did what they could 
to soothe her, and waited impatiently for the phy- 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


15 


sician to come. At last he put in an appearance 
and went to work on the instant. 

‘‘It is a compound fracture of the collar bone,” 
was Dr. Noble’s report. “Not necessarily danger- 
ous, unless there are internal injuries attending it. 
He must be kept perfectly quiet.” 

Just then Mr. Bell moved slightly. 

“Martha!” he murmured. 

“I am here, William,” replied his wife. 

“I — I — fell from the train trying to get off too 
soon,” went on the sufferer. 

“We know all about it, Mr. Bell,” said the Doc- 
tor kindly. “ Please keep quiet and you will be all 
right.” 

“ My neck hurts me.” 

“Your collar bone is broken and you must not 
move.” ^ 

“Broken!” 

“Yes.” 

The injured man groaned. 

“Too bad! too bad! What will my wife and 
family and Franklin do?” 

“Never mind us, William,” put in Mrs. Bell. 
“You must do as the doctor says.” 

“But I cannot work and earn anything.” 

“Never mind. Be thankful you are spared to us. 
You will be well some day.” 

After this the injured man became quiet. The 
doctor did all in his power and then left, stating 


16 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


that he would come again early in the morning. 
The men who had brought Mr. Bell from the sta- 
tion withdrew, and one after another those who 
had attended the party went home, leaving Mrs. 
Bell, Franklin and the girls alone. 

‘‘It’s a sorrowful ending for your party, Frank- 
lin,” said Mrs. Bell to the boy, after all but Clara 
and Daisy had gone to bed. “We never w^ould 
have dreamed of this a few hours ago.” 

“I do not care about the party,” replied the 
youth. “But I am awfully sorry uncle has been 
hurt. I suppose he will have to stay in bed for a 
a long time to come.” 

“Yes many weeks, and perhaps months,” sighed 
Mrs. Bell. 

“And during that time he won’t be earning yny 
thing.” went on Franklin. 

“No, our income will be cut off entirely 

“Then I think it about time that I found gome*, 
thing to do, don’t you?” 

“I— I suppose so,” hesitated Mrs. Bell. The idea 
of Franklin going to work so young had never be- 
fore struck her. 

“I intended to speak about the matter to Uncle 
Will to-morrow,” went on the youth. “ It’s about 
time I was earning something.” 

“But what will you do?” 

“If uncle and you are billing, I intended to strike 
Mr. Fells for work.” 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN, 


17 


Mr. Fells? Who is he?’, 

He is an old man who has a shop over on Main 
Street, he puts up electric door-bells, burglar 
alarms, and other electrical appliances.” 

^‘1 might have known you would desire that 
kind of work,” replied Mrs. Bell, with a faint smile. 
“All your ideas seem to run upon electricity.” 

“I admit they do, aunt. I don’t seem to care a 
rap for anything else. I would rather be a second 
Edison than the President of the United States !” 

And Franklin’s face glowed with enthusiasm as 
he spoke. 

“In that case it is certainly the work you should 
go at. I don’t believe in trying to put a boy at 
some occupation he doesn’t care for, because he 
will never get very far along in it.” 

“I know I could get along in electricity,” re- 
turned Franklin, with a decided shake of his head. 
“All I want is the start.” 

“Do you think Mr. Fells needs help?” 

“ I think so. A fellow named Gresson worked for 
him, but he used to be so irregular Mr. Fells dis- 
charged him.” 

Mrs. Bell was silent for a moment. 

“Well, Franklin, do as you think best.” she said. 
“It won’t do to worry your poor uncle about it, 
and I know very little about such things.” 

So the following day, after Doctor Noble had 
called and reported favorably upon Mr. Bell’s con- 


18 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


dition, Franklin set out for the shop of which he 
had spoken. 

It was a long low place, with dirty windows. 
The shelves were full of bells, wire, batteries, and 
similar things. In the rear, near a couple of win^ 
dows, was a work-bench, and here the youth found 
the proprietor of the place hard at work figuring 
on the cost of putting electrical appliances in a new 
house that was being built on Hillside avenue. 

‘‘Good morning, Mr. Fells,” said Franklin po- 
litely. 

“ Hullo, Bell, is that you?” cried the man looking 
up. “ Say, is that true your father was hurt on 
the railroad last night?” 

“Mr. Bell is my uncle,” returned the youth. 
“Yes, he had his collar bone fractured.” 

“ Too bad . How did it happen ? ’ ’ 

Franklin related the details, as they had been 
told to him by one of the men. Mr. Fells worked 
and listened at the same time. 

“No use talking, tain’ t safe to jump from the 
train till she stops,” he commented. 

“That is true.” 

“It will keep your uncle to home for a long spell, 
I take it.” 

“Yes, Sir, and it’s a very bad thing, not only for 
him, but for the family as well.” 

“ I suppose ’tis. He was only working on salary, 
wasn’t he?” 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


19 


‘‘Yes, Sir,” 

“And now that's stopped. Too bad.” Mr. Si- 
las Fells dropped his pencil. “ Now, what can I do 
for you?” 

“ I came in to see if you could give me a job.” 

“ A job ! ” exclaimed the electrician in surprise. 

“Yes, Sir. It’s time I went to work, and I think 
I could do better at this sort of thing than any- 
thing else,” explained Franklin. “You know 
what an interest I take in electricity.” 

“I do.” Mr. Fells rubbed his chin reflectively. 
“Well, I dunno. I do need a man. Gresson’s 
taken so to drink he ain’t no .good any more. But 
he was a splendid fellow to work when he was 
sober.” 

“ 1 wish you would give me a trial, said Franklin 
earnestly. “I know a little about the business, 
and I imagine I can learn fast.” 

“That’s just what all boys think until they get 
to work and get stuck, though I must admit you 
seem to take to electricity like an eel does to water. 
How much did you expect to earn a week?” 

‘H don’t know; whatever I am worth.” 

“I started Gresson on six dollars, and he was 
getting twelve when I sent him off.” 

“I am willing to start on six. Sir, ’’replied Frank- 
lin, thinking that sum (juite fair for a beginning. 

“I don’t allow no loafing,” went on Silas Fells. 
“ When a man works for me he must attend to his 


20 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


business and do just as he is told. When do you 
want to start 

^‘The sooner the better, Sir.” 

Then you can come to work to-morrow morn-; 
-ng. I have some burglar alarms to put in Mr. 
Fohn Mace’s house. His wife thought she heard 
somebody around the place day before yesterday, 
and she says she won’t feel safe till they are in.” 

“I’ll be on hand,” said Franklin. 

As he turned to leave the shop the door opened 
and Andrew Gresson came in. 

The man had been drinking, and his inflamed 
face was covered with a scowl. 

Say, Fells, do you want me to do that job up to 
Mace’s?” he asked, as he dropped into a chair. 

I told you that you were discharged,” cried Si- 
las Fells, angrily. have no use for a man who 
drinks.” 

“I only take a drop for the toothache,” pleaded 
Gresson. 

don’t believe it, and I dont want you around 
any more.” 

How are you goin’ to git your work done?” 
muttered Gresson. “You can’t do it alone.” 

“ I have just hired this young man to help me.” 

‘ ‘ What, Frank Bell ? ’ ’ 

“Yes.” 

“He don’t know nothin’ about electricity.” 
growled Gresson. “ Better take me back.” 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


21 


‘‘No, I won’t, and I want you to clear out,” -re-- 
plied vSilas Fells. 

“Very well; you’ll be sorry for this; see if you 
aint! ” exclaimed Andrew Gresson, and he rolled 
out of the place and up the street. 

A minute later, Franklin also left. Up at the 
corner of the street he came face to face with the 
discharged workman, who grabbed him by the 
arm. 

“So you’re the feller as is goin’ to do me out of 
my job!” cried Gresson, savagel;y. 

“No,” replied Franklin, stoutly, “Mr. Fells 
wanted a man, and I secured the place.” 

“ It’s the same thing.” 

‘' I don’t think so. If you had remained sober he 
would not have discharged you.” 

“I don’t want no preachin’ from a boy! I ain’t 
a-goin to stand it !” 

“What are you going to do?” asked Franklin, 
curiously. 

“Never mind; you’ll see.” 

“Why don’t you sober up and then, perhaps 
Mr. Fells will take you back.” 

“He’d take me back anyway, if he knew what 
was best for him,” growled Andrew Gresson. “ He 
won’t gain nothin’ by dischargin’ me. I was the 
best man he ever had, and he knows it.” 

“I imagine Mr. Fells knows his own business 
best,” returned Franklin, briefly. 


22 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


And with this remark he walked away. Andrew 
Gresson shook his fist after the youth. 

“I’ll get square; see if I don’t,” he muttered 
under his breath. 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


23 


CHAPTEE. III. 

FRANKLIN GETS INTO A DIFFICULTY. 

Mrs. Bell and the girls were surprised to learn 
that Frankhn had obtained employment so easily, 
and when, later in the da^^, Mr. Bell was informed 
of it, he appeared well pleased. 

‘‘And I am to get six dollars a week,” added the 
youth. 

“Six dollars is quite good pay for a boy,” said 
Mrs. Bell, who was in the sick-room. 

“You will pay your aunt something, I hope,” 
said Mr. Bell. “Now, I am not working — ” 

“The doctor says you must not talk too much,” 
interposed Mrs. Bell. “And you must not worry. / 

“But the children, Martha,” sighed the invalid. 

“I intend to give all the money to Aunt Mar- 
tha,” said Franklin. “It is not much, but it will 
help some towards tiding over the time until you 
are well.” 

“Oh, Franklin, I did not expect your whole 
wages!” cried Mrs. Bell. 

“But that is what you shall have, aunt. Come 
now, I won’t have it any different— at least not 


24 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


while uncle is not able to work. You have always 
supported me since father died, and J owe it to you 
to do something.” 

And, afraid that he might be urged to give up 
his idea, Franklin arose and left the room. 

‘‘A worthy boy!” murmured Mr. Bell. ‘‘The 
amount is not large, and by close pinching we 
might have done without it, but it shows the 
proper spirit.” 

“It does, indeed, William,” replied Mrs. Bell. “I 
trust he finds the work suitable. I imagine from 
now on electrical work will be much in demand.” 

“ Yes, the openings are numerous, and the field is 
fresh. Franklin takes to it, and I hope from the 
bottom of my heart he makes a success of it.” 

Bright and early on the following morning, 
Franklin presented himself at Silas Fells’ work- 
shop. The old man had already arrived, and was 
placing a number of things in the push-cart, which 
he soon after directed should be taken over to Mr. 
Mace’s residence. 

Franklin took hold with a will. It was his first 
start in business, and he wished to make a good 
showing and thus please his employer. 

The cart was pushed over through the snow to 
the Mace mansion, and then the two began to 
carry things into the house, and deposit them in 
the hallway. 

While Franklin was outside and Mr. Fells in the 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN 


25 


mansion, the youth saw a man leave the place by 
a side gate, for the residence stood on a corner. 
The man was Andrew Gresson. 

‘‘Now, what can he be doing here?’^ thought 
Franklin. “I don’t believe he knows any of the 
Maces.” 

He watched Gresson for a second, and then Mr. 
Fells called, and he went inside just as the dis- 
charged workman went up the street leading to the 
depot. 

“I want you to take one of these alarms up to 
the front room up stairs,” said Silas Fells. “ Then 
take this wire and run it long the hallway to that 
bend where the stairs come down. I will be up in a 
few minutes.” 

“Yes, Sir.” 

Franklin wished to tell Silas Fells that he had 
seen Andrew Gresson about the house. But Mrs. 
Mace, a sharp, ill-natured woman, stood close at 
hand, and he decided to wait until they were alone. 

He gathered up the articles Silas Fells had men- 
tioned, and mounted the stairs with them. The 
room in the front was closed, and Franklin 
knocked before entering. 

Beceiving no answer he placed the things he was 
carrying on the floor and opened the door. 

As he entered, a sudden gust of wind slammed 
the door shut. He was just about to open it again 
and bring in the alarm that was to be placed on 


26 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


the wall there, when something unusual about the 
room caused him to pause. 

Hanging over the back of a chair in the middle 
of the room was a man’s coat. On the chair rest- 
ed a small square box, which was wide open. On 
the floor near the chair lay a bracelet and a dia- 
mond ring ! 

“Hullo, what does this mean?” he exclaimed. 

Turning to the table he saw that the lamp was 
lit, although it was bright daylight in the room. 
He looked around, and in one corner of the 
apartment discovered a deep and dark closet, the 
door of which stood wide open. 

“ They probably lit the lamp to find something 
in the closet, ’’thought Franklin. He picked up the 
jewelry and placed the bracelet on the table. 

“It’s a careless way to leave jewelry lying 
about,” muttered the young electrician to himself, 
as he examined the diamond ring. “I thought 
Mrs. Mace looked like a more careful woman.” 

To all appearances the diamond ring was a val- 
uable one, and after a look at it the youth placed 
both it and the bracelet on the jewel casket, for the 
box on the chair was nothing else. 

Then Franklin opened the door and brought in 
the alarm. He was just about to set the clock-like 
machine on the table when a sudden thought 
flashed through his mind. 

Could it be possible that Andrew Gresson had 
been up in that room ? 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


27 


Franklin stood stock still as the thought coursed 
through his brain. Somehow, he now wished he 
had told Mr. Fells that the discharged workman 
had been at the house. 

Just then he heard the front door below close, 
and from the window he saw Silas Fells tramp 
down the street in the direction of the shop. The 
old man had forgotten certain connections to be 
used, and he did not wish to run the risk of sending 
Franklin after them, the youth not yet knowing 
where things were kept in the place. 

Seeing there was nothing else to do, Franklin be- 
gan work as he had been directed, and before long 
he became so absorbed that he forgot all about 
the jewel casket and its contents. 

He placed the alarm in position on a bracket be- 
tween the windows and made the connections with 
the sashes, and then began to run the wire through 
the hallway, as he had been told. 

While he was at work just outside of the door of 
the front room, he heard steps on the stairs, and 
Mrs. Mace appeared. 

Well, how are you getting along, young man?’ 
she asked, in a peculiar high pitch of voice. 

‘‘All right, ma’am,” replied the youth. 

“ I want you and Mr. Fells to make a good job of 
this,” continued the woman. “I don’t intend to 
pay a high price for any botch work.” 

“ Mr. Fells said the work was to be done in a first- 
class manner,” returned Franklin. 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 

‘‘There are so many burglaries taking place, I de- 
clare a body ain’t safe any more. I told Mr. Mace 
I wouldn’t go another day without some protection 
for night time.” 

And with this remark Mrs. Mace walked through 
the hallway and down the back stairs. 

“I wish I had told her about the jewel casket,” 
thought Franklin after she was gone. “Perhaps 
it’s all right, but it doesn’t look so to me.” 

He finished laying out the wire, and then went 
below and Avaited for Silas Fells to return. But as 
the old man did not do so, Franklin finally set off 
for the shop to see what was the matter. 

As he did so he met Mr. Mace, accompanied by a 
stranger. 

He nodded to the two men, and was about to 
pass on when a cry from the upper Avindow of the 
mansion caused him to come to a dead stop. 

‘ ‘ Stop the thief! Stop the thief! ’ ’ 

It was Mrs. Mace’s shrill voice, and it startled all 
three of those at the gate. 

“What’s that, Jane?” demanded Mr. Mace. 

“Stop that boy, John!” 

“What has he done?” 

“Bobbed the house!” replied Mrs. Mace. “Hold 
him! Don’t let him escape!” 

“I have robbed nobody,” cried Franklin “I 
never stole a thing in my life.” 

“He did! He did!” insisted Mi^s. Mace. “Hold 
him till I come down, John!” 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


29 


She disappeared from the window, and a minute 
later came rushing out of the front door and down 
to where Franklin and the two men stood. 

Now what has he done, Jane?” demanded Mr. 
Mace once more. 

“ He has broken open my jewelry casket and taken 
two of my rings,” gasped Mrs. Mace. She was all out 
of breath from her run down the stairs. 

“I did not touch the casket,” replied Franklin. 
“When I came into the room I found a diamond 
ring and a bracelet on the floor, and I placed them 
on the table; that was all.” 

“Humph! That’s an odd story,” muttered Mr. 
John Mace. “ My wife is not in the habit of letting 
her jewels lie around so loosely.” 

“I can’t help it,” said Franklin, doggedly. “I 
have told you the truth of the matter.” 

“It isn’t so,” screamed Mrs. Mace, growing more 
excited every minute. “ He took those two rings, 
I feel sure of it. John, send for a policeman at 
once and have him arrested.’’ 


30 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN-. 


CHAPTER IV. 

FRANKLIN MAKES A FRIENB. 

For the moment Franklin Bell did nol know 
what to do. For the first time in his life he itood 
accused of a crime. 

When Mrs. Mace ordered her husband to send for 
a policeman and have the young electrician ar- 
rested, Frankfin stood at the gate, unable to move. 
But when Mr. Mace moved off to do as requested, 
the youth caught him fiercely by the arm. 

‘‘Don’t — don’t do it, Mr. Mace!” he gasped. 
“I am innocent, and — and I won’t stand being 
arrested.” 

“You won’t, eh?” sneered the man. 

‘•No, sir. I didn’t see the rings, and it isn’t fair 
to treat me in this manner.” 

“That remains to be seen. You don’t deny you 
were in the room ?” 

“No, Sir, but I did not touch the things except- 
ing to pick up what I mentioned.” 

“ Do you think you can make me believe my wife 
allowed that casket to remain open on the chair?” 
demanded Mr. Mace, coldly. 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


31 


never did such a thing in my life, never!” 
shrieked Mrs« Mace. ^‘Why, it’s preposterous to 
think of such a thing!” 

Well, that is where it was,” returned Franklin, 
stoutly. 

“You took the rings:, and that is all there is to 
it,” replied the woman. “What did you do with 
them?” 

“I said I hadn’t them, Mrs. Mace,” cried the 
young electrician, growing desperate. 

“ And I say you did. Search him, J ohn !” 

“ You can search me if you please. I haven’t got 
the rings.” 

“Maybe he threw them away when he found he 
was caught,” suggested Mr. Mace. “It would be 
better for us to search around along the road in 
the snow.” 

The gentleman who had accompanied Mr. Mace, 
and who had thus far remained silent, now spoke 

up. 

“I believe the young man is innocent, Jane,” he 
said, quietly. 

“What!” shrieked the woman. “Belden Brice! 
how can you say such a thing when I am sure — ” 

“Of what?” 

“Sure he’s the thief.” 

“You don’t seem to prove it, Jane. The boy 
looks honest, a^id, excuse me for saying so, you 
are generally rather hasty in your judgments.” 


32 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


Mr. Belden Brice was Mrs. Place’s brother. He 
was a speculator in patents and fairly well-to-do. 
He was several years older than his sister, and 
understood her disposition thoroughly. 

Mrs. Mace pursed up her lips. 

know what I’m doing,” she replied, tartly. 

That boy took those rings. I am as sure of it as 
that I am born!” 

‘‘Where do you keep your jewel casket?” asked 
Belden Brice. 

“ In the closet of the front room up stairs.” 

“And this young man was at work in that 
room?” 

“ He was, for quite a while.” 

“Was the door to the closet locked?” 

“I suppose it was, but he could easily pick the 
lock, he has such a lot of tools.” 

“ Where is the jewel casket now?” 

“ Standing on the chair, wide open.” 

“ When did you place it in the closet last?” 

“Yesterday afternoon.” 

“ Did you sleep in the room last night?” 

“Yes; and I was in there all morning till he and 
Mr. Fells came.” 

“You were in the room till we came?” asked 
Franklin, curiously. 

“Yes; that is, excepting a few minutes I spent in 
the parlor-” 

“Were you in the parlor just before we came?” 
went on the youth. 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


33 


“What business is that of yours demanded 
Mrs. Mace. 

“I think I have a right to know. You accuse 
me of stealing, and I wish to prove my innocence.” 

“ I came down from the room about ten minutes 
before you arrived.” 

“Who was in the room after you came down?” 

“No one.” 

“Who is in the house besides yourself?” 

“Only Mary, the cook, and she was in the 
kitchen.” 

Franklin drew a long breath. 

“ I think I know who is guilty,” he said, in rather 
a low tone. 

“And who, pray?” 

‘ ^ Andrew Gresson . ’ ’ 

“Andrew Gresson!” repeated all three of the 
others. 

“ Yes. I hate to say so, but I must do it to clear 
myself.” 

“I don’t know the party, and I’m sure he hasn’t 
been near the place, said Mrs. Mace. 

“ He left just as we arrived, ma’am.” 

“Impossible!” 

“I say he did. I was wondering what he was 
doing about the place, and meant to mention the 
matter to you.” 

“Who is this Andrew Gresson?” questioned Bel- 
den Brice, with great interest. 


34 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


is a man that used to work for Mr. Fells, 
but he was discharged for getting drunk.’’ 

‘‘I see.” 

“He is angry at me for having filled his place, 
and he has vowed to get square with both of us.” 

“ Humph I And you are sure you saw him leav- 
ing the house?” 

“I saw him leave the garden by the side gate. 
He must have been in the house.” 

“ Not necessarily. But still it looks like it.” 

“I don’t see why you want to stick up for the 
boy, Belden,” cried Mrs. Mace. 

“Because he doesn’t look like a young man who 
would steal,” returned her brother, quietly. 

“ I don’t believe a word he says.” 

“Neither do I,” added John Mace. 

“ I do.” Belden Brice turned again to Franklin. 
‘ ‘ Did you see if Gresson had anything in his hands ? ’ ’ 

“No. He carried his left hand in his coat 
pocket.” 

“Did Mr. Fells see him?” 

“I hardly think so.” 

There was a moment’s pause, and then John 
Mace caught hold of Franklin and began to search 
his pockets. 

Of course nothing was found. 

“Look in the road while I look in the garden,” 
said Mrs. Mace. 

“Supposing we question your cook,” said Belden 
Brice. “ She may have seen this Gresson.” 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


35 


“Not likely/^ returned Mrs. Mace. 

Nevertheless, she followed her brother around to 
the kitchen, and the others came after, John Mace 
keeping tight hold of the young electrician’s arm 
to prevent him from running away. 

They found Mary Haggerty, the cook, busy at 
work preparing dinner. She looked up in surprise 
as the little party blocked up the doorway. 

“Now, tell us the truth, Mary,” began Mrs. 
Mace. “ Do you understand ? I want the truth.” 

“Sure, mum, an’ what’s the matter?” gasped 
the Irish girl, turning pale. 

“Two of my diamond rings have been stolen.” 

“Stholen! Saints presir ve us.” 

“ What we want to know is if you saw a strange 
man pass out of the side gate,” put in Belden Brice, 
coming at once to the point. 

“ Oi did, sur,” replied the cook. 

This answer dumbfounded Mr. and Mrs. Mace. 

“You did?” cried both. 

“Yis, mum.” 

“And why didn’t you speak of it before?” 
shrieked Mrs. Mace, catching the cook by the arm. 

“ Sure, an’ Oi thought it was the mon as was to 
put up the alarm bells.” 

“Mr. Fells?” 

“ No, mum. The mon as worruks for him.” 

“This boy?” 

“No, the other fellow.” 


36 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN 


‘^She means Andrew Gresson,” said Franklin, 
triumphantly. He felt as if a great load was being 
lifted from his heart. 

‘‘Oi think that’s his name,” answered Mary 
Haggerty. ^‘He’s the same mon that put up the 
bells for Mrs. Hanson.” 

^‘That’s him,” said Franklin. “If you do not 
believe it, ask Mr. Fells.” 

“How long ago is it since he left?” asked Belden 
Brice. 

“ Quite a while. When I first came,” 

“And which way did he go?” 

“That way.” 

“Toward the depot?” 

“Yes.” 

Belden Brice turned to John Mace. 

“Supposing we go after him, John?” 

“All right.” 

“Let the boy go along. He can point out the 
man if we run across him.” 

“He’ll run away,” cried Mrs. Mace. 

“No, I won’t,” returned Franklin. “Come on; 
we had better lose no time.” 

They were soon on their way to the depot. While 
they were yet a block off they heard the whistle of 
a locomotive. 

“It’s the train for Newark and New York!” 
cried Franklin. “ Let us see if Gresson boards it.” 

The three broke into a run, Franklin in the lead. 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


37 


But they were too late. .The train had made its 
brief stop and gone on before they arrived. 

They looked around on all sides. The depot plat- 
form was deserted. Then they entered the waiting 
rooms, the baggage office, and other places where 
Gresson might be keeping himself. 

The man was nowhere to be seen. 

“We’ve missed him,” said Belden Brice. “Like 
as not, he has gone to New York with his ill-gotten 
booty.” 

“That is, if he did really have the rings,” said 
J ohn Mace, significantly. “That the man was about 
the house proves nothing. He might have come 
there to see Mr. Fells.” 

Franklin’s heart fell at these words. Evidently 
Mr. Mace still thought him guilty. 

The trio returned to the Mace mansion. Here 
they found Mrs. Mace, Mary, the cook, and Silas 
Fells, holding an excited confab. 

“Did you catch him?” demanded Silas Fells, ex- 
citedly. 

“No.” 

The electrician turned upon Franklin. 

“What kind of a fellow are you,” he stormed. 
“Why didn’t you report this matter as soon as 
you found the jewel casket wide open and the jewels 
spread all over the floor? 

“I was going to report it,” returned Franklin, 
“ but you had gone to the shop and—” 


38 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


don’t want to hear another word,” roared Si- 
las Fells. “I suppose you would let somebody rob 
a whole house right under your nose! Go to the 
shop and wait till I come.” 

And, without another word, Silas Fells shoved 
Franklin out of the gate. 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 




CHAPTEE V. 

FRANKLIN VISITS EDISON’S WORKS. 

Franklin walked slowly away from the Mace 
mansion. In some manner he felt the sting of dis- 
grace upon him, and, though he was perfectly in- 
nocent, he could not shake off the feeling, which 
kept growing worse as he thought over what had 
occurred. 

“Mr. Fells is right. 1 ought to have told him at 
once,” he muttered to himself, as he reached the 
electrician’s place of business. “ I might have been 
sure that Andrew Gresson was there for no good 
purpose.” 

The shop was locked up, and the youth sat down 
on the steps to await Silas Fells ’s return. 

“It isn’t fair to treat me in this fashion,” he 
went on, bitterly. “It was not my business to 
watch Mrs. Mace’s jewels, even though I was in the 
room. I suppose if they are not recovered there 
will always be some one who will consider me 
guilty.” 

At last Silas Fells returned; pushing the little 
cart before him. His face wore a sour and dark 
look. 


40 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN, 


He unlocked the door and marched into the shop 
without saying a word, and it was not until Frank- 
lin began to carry some of the things into the place 
that he began. 

“Drop those things, Bell!’’ he cried, sharply. 

Franklin did so. 

“I w^on’t need your services any longer,” went on 
Silas Fells. “ If I had a-kno^vn what I know now I 
would never have hired you. I’ve lost one good 
customer by it.” 

“ Did Mrs. Mace — ” began the youth. 

“ Yes, she did ! She says she ain’t got no use to 
have a boy around like you, and I don’t much 
blame her.” 

“But I had nothing to do with the robbery,” 
pleaded Franklin. 

“ Didn’t you see the casket open on the chair?” 
demanded the old man. 

“I did, but—” 

“Very well, you might have known something 
was wrong. Women, especially folks like Mrs. 
Mace, don’t leave their diamonds lying around 
loose. Of course I don’t believe you took the rings, 
and I’m willing to believe your story that Andy 
Gresson took ’em, but Mrs. Mace sticks to it that 
you are guilty, and as long as you can’t prove dif- 
ferent, why I can’t keep you to work.” 

“Then I’m to consider myself discharged?” fal 
tered the young electrician, 


BOUND TO BE AI . , ; . \ 41 

‘‘Yes. If you catch Gresson and get back them 
rings, maybe I’ll take you back, but not other- 
wise.” 

Franklin stood for a moment in silence, and then 
walked toward the door slowly. 

Suddenly he turned about and faced Silas Fells. 

“Mr. Fells,” he said, in a voice which he found it 
very hard to keep steady. “ Do you think you are 
treating me fairly? Supposing you were in my 
place, how would you like to be sent off in this 
fashion, after you had done what you thought was 
right? If you discharge me, people will say you 
think I am guilty, and — ” 

Here Franklin’s voice choked him, and he found 
it impossible to go on. Silas Fells shifted uneasily, 
and pretended to be busy putting some stock on 
the shelf. 

“I’ve got to look out for my own interests,” he 
replied somewhat doggedly. “If I didn’t it would 
go all to smash in less’n a week. People ain’t go- 
ing to have electric appliances put in their houses 
by men they can’t trust— I mean,” he added hasti- 
ly, “by a man who allowed things to be stolen 
under his very nose; that’s all. I ain’t got nothing 
against you Bell, but you can’t blame me, an’ you 
can see how things are yourself.”' 

Franklin did not know that Mrs. Mace had in- 
sisted on his discharge, and for the sake of retain- 
ing the woman’s good wishes, Silas Fells had 
agreed to send the youth off. 


42 


BOVJc" J BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 

do understand,” replied Franklin, pointedly. 

And without another word he walked out of 
the shop and up the street. 

His mind was in a whirl, and he took no notice 
of where he was going, until he found himself on a 
country road some distance from the city. Coming 
to a sunny spot, he threw himself on some piled-up 
logs and gave himself up to bitter meditations. 

How brief had been his brightest hopes ! He had 
gone to work for Silas Fells in the early morning 
full of ambition, and here it was not yet noon, and 
he was in the sorest trouble of his life. 

He wondered what his uncle and aunt and cous- 
ins would say when they heard of it. Would they 
blame him, or would their hearts be full of nothing 
but sympathy? 

And then, the money ! He had intended to hand 
his Aunt Martha every dollar he earned, and now 
he would not be able to give her a cent. 

He sat for a long time without moving, It came 
twelve o’clock, and he heard the distant bells and fac- 
tory whistles announce the mid-day hour. But he 
had not the heart to go home and face those who 
loved him. The slightest unkind word from any 
of them he felt would cut like a knife, and he was 
afraid to risk it. 

Besides, he could not have eaten a mouthful. He 
felt half choked now, right here in the open air, and 
he had taken off his tie and loosed his collar, des- 
pite the cold air. 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


43 


At length there was a noise down the road, and 
a minute later a horse attached to a light business 
wagon dashed by, driven by a gentleman slightly 
past middle age. 

Franklin instantly recognized the gentleman as 
Thomas A. Edison, the world-renowned inventor 
of electrical appliances. 

The wagon disappeared, and Franklin sank back 
once more. 

‘‘I wish I could become a second Edison.” he 
murmured to himself, ‘‘Gracious, what a lot he 
must know about electricity and applied me- 
chanics!” His brows contracted for an instant. 
“ I wonder if it would do any good to apply to him 
for a job!” 

Franklin knew that Edison’s electrical works, 
the one at which the great inventor himself labored, 
were not far distant, just outside of Llewellyn 
Park. 

Here, the youth knew, many men and boys were 
employed, and why might not he obtain a situa- 
tion there ? 

He jumped to his feet, and adjusted his collar 
and tie. 

“I’ll strike Edison himself,” he declared to him- 
self. “ He can’t say more than no, and he may say 
yes. It won’t do any harm, at any rate.” 

In less than a minute he was striding off in the 
direction the wagon had taken. 


44 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


The walk, which was a trifle over a mile long, did 
him good, and when he reached the works he was 
more collected than he had been since Mrs. Mace 
had accused him. 

He walked around to the office of the factory, 
and on peering through one of the windows, saw 
the great inventor inside, talking to an assistant. 

lYanklin hesitated for an instant, and then 
knocked boldly on the door. 

‘‘Come in,” said a voice. 

Franklin pushed open the door and found him- 
self in a rather plain, but neat office. No one was 
present but the inventor and his assistant, and the 
latter looked up inquiringly. 

Franklin could not help but survey the man he 
thought gi’eater than the President. He saw an 
earnest but not unpleasant face, backed by rather 
a tall, loose-hung figure and hands that showed 
their possessor was not afraid of hard work. 

“This is Mr. Thomas Edison’s place, I believe,” 
he said to the assistant, as he removed his hat. 

“Yes. What can we do for you?” 

“ I came to see if you could give me work of any 
kind in your factory here. I have always taken to 
electricity, and I believe I could do such work about 
as well as anything.” 

The great inventor’s assistant shook his head. 

“I’m afraid not,” he said. “Have you any ex- 
perience?” 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


45 


“ I have experimented a little on my own hook/’ 

“In what way?” 

Franklin told him, and quite a little conversa- 
tion followed. 

“Evidently you are cut out for the work,” said 
the electrician, at the conclusion. “But the only 
place we have vacant is for an experienced man on 
electric meters, and that position you could not 
fill.” 

“And there is nothing else?” 

“No.” The assistant caught up a pencil and 
pad. “ Write down your name and address, and if 
we want young hands I will let you know\” 

“Thank you,” returned Franklin. He wrote 
down what was asked for and handed the pad 
back. “ I trust you will want me soon.” 

“Don’t be too sanguine. The trade is rather 
dull at present.” He gave Franklin another sharp 
look. “Since you have told me about yourself, 
would you like to take a look through the works?” 

“Oh, yes, sir,” replied the youth, eagerly. He 
had wanted to ask for the permission, but had 
hardly dared. “ It will be a great treat.” 

The great inventor’s assistant called a man from 
the rear. 

“Show Mr. Bell through the works, Frank,” he 
said. “Good day.” 

“Good day,” returned Franklin. “And thank 
you.” 


46 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


The man at once took the youth from one shop 
to another, explaining this machine and that. The 
young electrician was thoroughly interested, and 
he was astonished to find, when he had finished, 
that it was after two o’clock. 

He walked away in a thoughtful mood. The 
sights he had seen had driven his trouble of the 
morning from his mind for the time. 

Gracious, what a fine place !” he kept saying to 
himself. “I’ve got to work pretty hard and prove 
myself wonderfully smart if ever I wish to own as 
good a one.” 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN, 


47 


CHAPTER VI. 

A MOMENT OF PERIL. 

“ Hullo, there, young man 

Franklin looked up from his thoughts and be^ 
held Mr. Belden Brice in a buggy, close at hand. 

‘‘How did you make out with Fells went on 
Belden Brice, as Franklin stopped short. 

“He discharged me.’’ 

“Did eh? Humph! I suppose you don’t know 
me, do you?” 

“No, sir.” 

“ My name is Belden Brice. I am from Paterson, 
and I am Mrs. Mace’s brother.” 

“Mrs. Mace’s brother!” ejaculated Franklin. 
“ Why, you took my part !” 

Belden Brice laughed. 

“So I did. I think my sister was in the wrong, 
and she treated you outrageously.” 

“It wasn’t fair.” 

“No, and I told her so. We had a pretty wsrcm 
time after you left. So Fells discharged you? I 
thought he would, after what my sister said h) 
him. What are you going to do about it?” 


48 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


don’t know yet. I would like to find Gresson, 
and I would like to strike another job.” 

“ Naturally. Have you worked for Fells long?” 

Just went to work this morning, Sir.” 

‘‘Indeed!” Belden Brice elevated his eyebrow^s. 
“Your experience with him was a short one.” 

“It was, and bitter.” 

“ Never mind ; keep a stiff upper lip.” 

“ I shall try to do that. Sir. I have just been to 
the Edison Works for a job.” 

“Bound to get something connected with electri- 
city, I see.” 

“Yes, Sir, if I can. I like that sort of work bet- 
ter than anything else.” 

“You do?” 

“I have several batteries at home, and the folk^s 
declare that I do nothing but fuss with them the 
whole time,” added Franklin, with a faint smile. 
Somehow, it lightened his heart to talk to such a 
man as Belden Brice. 

“Well, it’s a great science,” said the man. “I 
have dabbled into it a little myself, and I have pur- 
chased two electrical inventions.” 

“If I ever get the chance, I shall invent some- 
thing in that line,” returned Franklin, growing 
enthusiastic. 

Belden Brice smiled. 

“You have no prospects at present?” he ven- 
tured slowly. 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN, 


49 


‘^No, Sir.’’ 

“ How would you like to work in Paterson?” 

‘Hn Paterson?” repeated the youth. 

“Yes. I know several people connected with the 
electrical business, and if you care to leave home I 
may be able to do something for you in that city.” 

Franklin’s heart gave a bound. Here seemed a 
chance out of all his present difficulties. 

“I will gladly go if the position will pay well 
enough to support me,” he said. 

“Then, supposing you come to Paterson early 
to-morrow?” 

“I will, Sir.” 

“I am going home in a little while, and I will see 
what I can do for without delay.” 

“ Thank you. You are kind to take the trouble 
for a stranger.” 

“Well, I rather like your looks, and I want to 
make amends for my sister’s rudeness. It wasn’t 
fair, and I can readily see it has left you in a fix 
which will not be done away with till this Gresson 
is caught.” 

“ It is more than likely he has left the city,” said 
Franklin soberly. 

“I see. Well, I must be going. YouwiU be in 
Paterson by noon to-morrow?” 

“Yes, Sir.” 

“ Here is my business card. You will find me at 
my office. Let me see, what is your name?” 


50 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


Franklin told him, and a minute later the two 
separated. 

The youth returned to his uncle’s house with a 
lighter heart. It was true he had lost one position, 
but was there not the best prospects of speedily 
obtaining another ? 

There was great surprise in the Bell household 
when he had related all that occurred. Mrs. Bell 
shed tears when she learned that her nephew had 
been thought guilty of stealing, and intended to go 
to another city for work, and the girls were indig- 
nant at the way their cousin had been treated. 

“But Mrs. Mace was always hateful,” declared 
Daisy, with energy. “Didn’t she scold little Flos- 
sie Graves dreadfully just because the poor lame 
dear asked the cook for some grapes last Fall ? If 
it wasn’t for clearing you I would almost wish she 
would never hear of Gresson and her rings again!” 

“Daisy!” remonstrated Mrs. Bell. 

“Well, it’s a shame that she should mistrust 
Frank !” cried the girl. 

Mr. Bell was a trifle better, but he had mothing 
to say. His own troubles seemed to have almost 
overcome him. 

“ I suppose if you obtain a position in Paterson 
you will have to board there,” said Mrs. Bell 
later on. 

“Yes, Aunt Martha. It’s too bad to leave you, 
but it can’t be helped.” 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


51 


‘*I suppose not.” 

“ I shall come home every Saturday night and 
stay over Sunday.” 

“Yes, you must do that, Franklin.” 

“And every dollar I can spare shall be sent to 
you.” 

“Yes, but, Franklin—” 

“No buts, aunt. I have made up my mind 
to it.” 

And the youth would not hear of it being other- 
wise. 

The evening was spent at home, and, despite the 
fact that Mr. Bell lay in the front room upstairs, 
it was far from a dull one for all. Franklin and 
the others discussed the youth’s prospects, and his 
cousins thought he had secured a real friend in 
Belden Brice. 

“ Who knows but what some day you may in- 
vent something and sell it to him for a big price?” 
said Clara. 

“I trust I do,” replied Franklin in all serious- 
ness. “ Then I could buy every one of you a new 
silk dress, and Aunt Martha two, and Uncle Will a 
horse and buggy, and—” 

“Yourself a house and a pretty wife,” finished 
Daisy, with a merry burst of laughter. Even the 
fact of sickness being in the house could not down 
the girl’s naturally jolly spirits. 

They all smiled at this, even Mr. Bell when he was 
told of it later on. 


52 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


Franklin was the first person up in the morning. 
His aunt soon followed, and by seven o’clock the 
youth had had his breakfast, bidden all good-bye, 
and was on his way to the depot. 

Here he found there would be a train for Newark 
in ten minute^r, and from that place he could get a 
train at the Erie depot for Paterson at ten o’clock. 

He purchased a ticket, and it was not long before 
his train came along and he jumped on board. 

The cars were crowded with business men on 
their way to New York, but Franklin did not mind 
standing, as he knew the ride to Newark would be 
a short one. 

Just before reaching the next way station to 
Newark the train came to a sudden halt, and re- 
mained at a standstill for a long time. 

wonder what’s up?” thought Franklin after 
ten minutes had passed. 

He knew they were but a few blocks from the 
station, and after spending another five minutes in 
the car he left, along with a number of others. 

At the front of the train he found that a switch- 
lock had been broken some blocks beyond, and 
the train could not go ahead until the break was 
fixed. 

“I guess I’ll walk the rest of the way,” said 
Franklin to himself. “ It won’t take but a few min- 
nutes, and it won’t do to run the risk of losing that 
Paterson train on the Erie road.” 


BOUND TO BE AN EIjECTRICIAN. 


53 


So he sprang over the fence which guards the 
railroad track on either side, and started on at a 
brisk pace. 

He was within tw^o blocks of the station when, 
happening to glance toward the tracks, he saw a 
little girl walking upon them in the same direction 
he was pursuing. 

suppose she was on that train too,’’ he said 
to himself, ‘^and wants to get to Newark before 
they get matters put into shape once more. But 
it is dangerous for her to walk the tracks. She 
ought to come out here on the sidewalk.” 

Frankhn hesitated for a moment and then came 
close to the fence. 

‘‘Hullo, there, little girl!” he cried. 

The girl stopped short and looked at him. 

“What do you want?” she asked in rather a ner- 
vous voice. 

“ It’s dangerous to walk on the tracks. Hadn’t 
you better come out here on this sidewalk?” 

“I suppose so,” was the reply. “But I didn’t 
notice the walk when I started, and a man told me 
it was only a few steps to the station.” 

“There is an opening at the street just below 
here,” went on Frankhn. “You had better come 
out — ” 

The youth did not dnish. 

There was a shrill whistle close at hand, and, 
looking down the track, Franklin saw a train ap^ 
proaching. 


54 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


You will have to get over on the other track !’’ 
he cried in alarm. This train — ’’ 

Then he looked the other way. Oh, horror! the 
train upon which he had been a passenger was on 
its way down. The little girl would surely be 
caught I 

‘ ‘ J ump for the fence I ” he cried hoarsely. Quick, 
quick I or it will be too late !’’ 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


55 


CHAPTER VII. 

A LIVELY PUESUIT. 

Franklin’s cries, as well as the si^ht of the two 
locomotives approaching from opposite directions, 
seemed to fairly paralyze the little girl for the time 
being, and she stood transfixed upon the tracks. 

Jump, jump for the fence!” repeated the young 
electrician. You haven’t a moment to spare I” 

‘‘I — I can’t jump!” gasped the poor, bewildered 
creature, Qh, save me ! save me !” 

“Come over here and I will lift you over! This 
way; be quick!” 

Franklin sprang over the fence at a bound, and 
a dozen steps brought him to the little girl’s side. 
She was deadly white, and could do nothing further 
than stretch out her arms to him appealingly. 

He caught her up like a flash, and, turning 
swiftly, darted once more toward the fence on the 
left. There was no time left to climb out of the 
way, so without ceremony he threw down his un- 
expected charge as far as possible from the steel 
rails, and then crouched back as best he could out 
of harm’s way. 


56 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


With a shrill blast of the whistle, the locomotive 
nearest to them rushed past, parts of the great 
giant just grazing Franklin’s left arm. Then fol- 
lowed a reversal of the lever and a sanding of the 
tracks, and with the fire flying from every wheel, 
the train came to a sudden halt, and they were 
safe. 

As soon as the young electrician realized that 
the danger was over, he picked up the little girl 
and placed her limp form over his shoulder. There 
was a narrow path between the cars and the fence, 
and along this he made his way until the opening 
at the street below was reached. He crawled under 
the guard gate, and a moment later stood the 
little girl on her feet on the sidewalk. 

“ Oh, dear, are we safe?” were her flrst words de- 
livered with a half sob. 

‘‘Yes, we are safe now,” returned Franklin. 
“But it was a narrow escape,” he added, with a 
shudder. He could not help but think of what the 
consequence would have been had that ponderous 
locomotive rolled over both of them. 

“I am so glad I I would have been killed if it 
hadn’t been for you.” 

And she gave him a deeply grateful look out of 
her clear blue eyes. 

By this time several of the railroad people who 
had witnessed the thrilling scene came up. 

“Either of you hurt?” demanded the engineer of 
the train, anxiously. 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


57 


replied Franklin. “We both came off 
without a scratch.” 

“You can thank your lucky stars! What were 
you doing on the track anyway? Don’t you know 
it is against the rules to walk there?” 

“I sprang over the fence to get the girl,” ex- 
plained the young electrician. “ Were you on the 
other train?” he asked, turning to the little one. 

“Yes, sir. The train stopped so long that I got 
out to walk to the station, same as lots of the big 
folks.” 

“It was very wrong for you to remain on the 
tracks and run such a risk, besides giving me a big 
scare and delaying the train,” said the engineer, 
but not very unkindly. “All right, Dick,” he 
added, to the conductor, who was hurrying to the 
spot. “Nobody hurt.” 

“Good enough,” returned the other official. 
“Then send her through, Sam, for we are ten min- 
utes behind time.” 

And off the train people hurried, leaving Frank- 
lin and the little girl on the sidewalk alone. 

“I wouldn’t have walked on their tracks, only I 
was in a hurry to get down to the city,” exclaimed 
the little miss, who, now that the danger was over, 
was rapidly regaining her composure. “ I wanted 
to get a street car to the Erie depot.” 

“Is that so?” returned Franklin, in some sur- 
prise. “I’m going to the Erie depot myself.” 


58 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


‘‘Oh! Then we can go together, can’t we?” and 
the little girl held out her hand impulsively. 

“Certainly we can,” said the young electrician, 
as he took the hand. “Come on.” And off they 
started through the light snow, for the place where 
they might board the proper street car. 

“It was very kind of you to help me,” went on 
the little miss, heartily. “ I shan’t forget you, and 
I am going to tell papa Brice all about it when I 
get home.” 

“Brice!” exclaimed Franklin, catching at the 
name. ‘ ‘ Is that your papa’s name ? ’ ’ 

“ He isn’t my real papa, but he’s just as good to 
me as if he was,” the little girl hastened to correct 
herself by saying. “I’ve lived with him a long 
time now, and he treats me splendidly.” 

“ And what is his full name?” 

“Belden Brice. He hasn’t any middle name, and 
neither have I. My name is Cora Brice. Don’t 
you think that a nice name? I do.” 

“A very nice name indeed. Then you live in 
Paterson?” 

“Why, how did you know that?” 

“I know Mr. Brice. I am on my way to visit 
him now.” 

“What, at our house? How strange!” 

“No, not at your house, but at his office, He 
asked me to come.” 

“ Then if you are coming to Paterson you must 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


59 


come to the house, too! I’ve got lots of nice 
things for you to see.” 

‘‘Perhaps I won’t have time to come,” returned 
Franklin, kindly, much pleased by the little girl’s 
innocent and cordial manner. “I am going to 
Paterson to work — if Mr. Brice can find me a 
place.” 

“ Did he say he would find you a place?” 

“ He said he would try.” 

“Then he’ll get the place. He can do anything, 
papa Brice can. Here is where we take the street 
cars, isn’t it?” 

“Yes.” They came to a halt on the corner. 
“You are rather young to travel alone,” Franklin 
continued. “Are you not afraid of getting lost?” 

“ Oh, I know the way to Orange, for I have been 
there a number of times with papa Brice. I’ve been 
spending New Year’s with Lottie King and her 
mamma, and I had a splendid time. “Oh, you 
didn’t tell me your name.” 

“My name is Franklin Bell.” 

“That’s as nice as mine. And are you going to 
stay in Paterson?” 

“I expect to— if I get a situation,” returned the 
young electrician. 

At that moment a car came along and Franklin 
assisted her on board and took a seat beside her. 
The ride to the Erie depot was quite a long one, 
and during it Cora plied him with questions, all of 


60 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


which he answered good-naturedly. He was 
curious to know how she happened to live with Mr. 
Brice if she was not his daughter, but refrained 
from questioning her on the point. 

Franklin was well pleased to think that he had 
been of assistance to one w^ho was in some way 
attached to Belden Brice, but he was too high- 
minded to speculate upon how he could turn the 
incident to his personal advantage. He resolved 
to keep silent on the point, and if Cora forgot to 
speak to the gentleman about it to let the matter 
rest where it stood. 

At length Fourth Avenue, upon which the Erie 
depot is situated, was reached, and Franklin got 
out and assisted his little companion to the ground. 

“We will have to wait quite some time for the 
train,” remarked the young electrician as they 
walked down the street towards the station. 

“Yes, I know. But I won’t mind that, for I like 
to watch the people and the men with the trunks 
and satchels.” 

“Have you a ticket?” 

“Yes, in my purse here. Papa Brice bought me 
an excursion ticket when I came, and he gave me a 
whole dollar to spend besides.” 

“ He must be a very kind man.” 

“Oh, indeed he is I” 

“I am glad of it,” thought Franklin. “ What a 
difference between him and his sister, Mrs. Mace I” 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


61 


The depot was soon reached, and, leaving Cora 
standing on the platform, the young electrician 
entered the waiting room to purchase a ticket. 

As he entered one door he saw a man hasten out 
by the other. He caught only a glimpse of the 
man, but that was enough. 

Andy Gresson ! ” he exclaimed. “ And I thought 
he had gone to New York or further !’' 

As soon as he could recover from his astonish- 
ment, Franklin resolved to go after the man. He 
was firmly convinced that Gresson had stolen the 
two rings, and that if he could clear his own name 
he must recover the missing property and bring 
the criminal to justice. 

‘‘He left because he saw me,’’ reasoned Franklin 
to himself. “ That proves that he is trying to keep 
out of the way. But it won’t do him any good if 
I can la}^ hands on him I’ll hand him over to the 
authorities, even if I have to stay in Newark all 
day to do it.” 

Andy Gresson had passed out of the rear door of 
the station and w^as now running towards a lum- 
ber yard which was close at hand. Without turn- 
ing back to explain to Cora, Franklin shot out of 
the same door and made after the fugitive. 

There was a siding to cross, upon which stood 
several freight cars. Behind these cars ran Gres- 
son, with Franklin scarcely a hundred feet behind 
him. 


62 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


Stop ! Stop ! called out the young electrician. 
“Stop, Andy Gresson!” 

If the flying man heard, he paid no attention to 
Franklin’s command. He increased his speed, and 
half a minute later dashed into the lumber yard, 
banging the heavy slatted gate behind him. 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


08 


CHAPTER yill. 

AT CLOSE QUARTERS. 

Close beside the gate hung a padlock attached 
to an iron chain. Seizing the padlock, Andy Gres- 
son shoved the hasp in place and snapped the lock 
through the staple, thus closing the gate of the 
lumber yard against Franklin’s entrance. 

‘‘Stop, Gresson! Do you hear?” cried the 
young electrician, as he reached the gate, just as 
the operation was completed. 

Still the man made no reply. He ran down the 
wagon way, between huge piles of boards, and 
pieces of timber, and disappeared around a cor- 
ner. 

A brief examination convinced Franklin that to 
open the gate would just then be impossible. He 
looked up and saw that the slats were ten feet 
high. 

“ Here goes for a try at them anyway !” he mur- 
mured to himself, and the next instant was doing 
his best to scale the tall gate. 

Fortunately, the boy was a good climber, and he 
reached the top of the gate mthout difficulty. Then 


64 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


he took a leap and landed in a little heap of sno^^ 
on the other side. 

But, though he had scaled the gate successfully, 
it had taken some time, and now, when he ran to 
the corner below in the lumber yard, he found that 
Andy Gresson was nowhere in sight. 

‘^He must be around here somewhere,” thought 
Franklin. “Like as not he is behind some of these 
lumber piles watching for me. I must keep my 
eyes open, or he will slip me after all.” 

Fortunately, this part of the yard had not been 
visited much during the holidays, and the late 
snow had scarcely been disturbed. Casting his eyes 
about him, Franklin soon discerned what he had 
rightfully considered to be newly made track, and 
these he began to follow. 

The tracks led him around half a dozen piles of 
lumber and through a narrow walk to a shed iu 
one corner of the yard, used for housing barrels of 
lime. The door of the shed was closed, but with- 
out hesitation Franklin flung it open and entered. 
He was just in time to see Andy Gresson in the 
fcict of secreting himself behind a pile of rubbish. 

“It’s no use, Gresson; you might as well come 
out of that!” he called out, and somewhat red in 
the face, Silas Fell’s former workman slowly com- 
plied. 

“What do you want ’o me?” he asked, as he 
came up to where Franklin stood. 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN 


65 


I imagine you know well enough,” returned the 
young electrician, coldly. 

don’t know nothin’,” returned Andy Gresson, 
doggedly. 

‘‘It is strange you should take so much trouble 
to get out of my way. And seeing that the man 
did not attempt to reply to this, the young electri- 
cian continued : “What have you done with Mrs. 
Mace’s two rings?” 

“ Don’t know nothin’ about her rings.” 

“ You took them out of her jewel casket, and you 
have got to give them up.” 

“ See here. Bell. I don’t want you to talk to me 
like this!” blustered the man, feeling that he was 
getting the worst of the argument. “I want you 
to go about your own business and leave me 
alone.” 

“ I won’t leave you until you have given up the 
rings, and perhaps I won’t leave you alone even 
then. Your taking the rings cast a grave suspi- 
cion upon my character.” 

“ Like as not you took the rings yourself,” burst 
out Andy Gresson, suddenly, thinking he saw a way 
to clear himself. “ I don’t know anything about 
them. Now go away.” 

“I will not go away unless you accompany me.” 

“And where will I go with you?” 

“ The nearest station house. I want this matter 
investigated.” 


66 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN, 


“This ain’t Orange.’’ 

“ Never mind. You come with me.” 

Franklin stepped forward to grasp Andy Gres- 
son by the arm. But before he could do so the 
man rushed up and pushed him back violently. 

“When you see me again you’ll know it, Bell!” 
he cried out, and on the next instant he was gone. 

The force of the sudden and unexpected attack 
had landed Franklin on his back on a number of 
lime barrels. As quickly as he could collect his 
scattered senses, he scrambled to his feet and 
rushed out of the lime shed, bent upon stopping 
Gresson and bringing him to terms. 

“Hi, there, boy! What are you doing here?” 
exclaimed a rough voice, and then Franklin found 
himself in the sturdy clutches of a burly lumber 
wagon driver. 

“Let me go, please,” returned the young electri- 
cian. “I want to catch that man who just ran 
away.” 

“ Catch nobody I Ain’t you the chap that played 
the trick on us just now and locked the gate?” 

“ No, sir; it was the man I am after. He is a 
thief.” 

“ A thief I I didn’t see any one.” 

“ He ran out of the shed just before I did.” 

The man questioned Franklin for a minute 
longer, and finally concluded to release the young 
electrician. Then Franklin persuaded him to join 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


67 


iD the search for Andy Gressou, and the two spent 
nearly an hour in the lumberyard and in the sheds 
and buildings around it. 

But it was all to no purpose. During the brief 
interval that had elapsed while Franklin was tell- 
ing his story, Silas Fell’s former workman had 
made good his escape, and not a single trace of 
him could be found. 

“It’s too bad,” thought the young electrician, 
as he wended his way to the depot, just as the train 
for Paterson came in sight, “Perhaps Gresson 
has not yet disposed of those rings and has them 
still in his pocket.” 

Cora Brice was surprised over his long absence, 
but he explained to the little girl that he had 
chanced to catch sight of a man he had wished to 
see very much before leaving Newark. She asked 
no further questions on the point, and soon inter- 
ested both herself and the young electrician in the 
scenery of the country through which they were 
passing. 

Paterson was soon reached, and here a surprise 
awaited both of them. Cora had expected to find 
her way home alone while Franklin presented him- 
self at Belden Brice’s office, and here was the gen- 
tleman at the depot awaiting them. 

Mr. Brice took Cora up in his arms and kissed 
her affectionately, asking her at the same time if 
she had had a good time. Then he held out a hand 


68 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


to Franklin and desired to know how the two had 
become acquainted. 

‘‘He saved me from being rnn over,” exclaimed 
Cora, and without waiting for Frankhn to speak 
told her story. 

Evidently Belden Brice was deeply affected, for 
something like a tear gathered in the corners of 
each of his eyes. He took Franklin’s hand again 
and gave it a tight squeeze. 

“Well done, my boy,” he said huskily. 

“You are a real hero, and I shall not forget you. 
Come with us. My carriage is waiting to take 
Cora home. We will all dine together, and then 
we will see what can be done for you.” 

“ Oh, thank you, sir, but I can get a lunch at the 
restaurant ” 

“Not to-day, Franklin. You must be my guest. 

We can talk matters over at the house better 
than we can at my office, which is generally full of 
poor inventors tr3ring to sell their inventions.” 

Almost before he knew it, Franklin was seated in 
the carriage and being driven to the fashionable 
portion of the city. On the way he told Mr. Brice 
of his encounter with Andy Gresson. 

“I will send word to my sister,” said the gentle- 
man. “And if she sees fit she can have a detective 
hunt the man up.” 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN 


69 


CHAPTEK IX. 

ENEMIES. 

Franklin’s brief visit to Belden Brice’s residence 
was one full of pleasure. Both the speculator and 
his httle adopted daughter did all in their power 
to make him comfortable, and they succeeded to 
the last degree. 

When the elegant repast that was served was over, 
little Cora was sent off in charge of the housekeeper, 
and then Franklin followed Mr. Brice into the 
library, where they sat down to talk over the 
young electrician’s prospects. 

presume you are anxious to know if I have 
found a place for you,” began Belden Brice, drop- 
ping into a comfortable armchair by the open 
grate, and motioning the boy to a seat opposite. 

‘‘Yes, to tell the truth, I am anxious,” returned 
Franklin. “I hate to be idle, and, besides, I cam 
not afford to be without work.” 

“I have made inquiries at a number of places, 
but without success.” went on Belden Brice. “I 
wanted lo get you into some first-class electrical 
establishment, where you might learn all of the 


70 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


details of the business, for that is what would be 
best for you, to my way of thinking.” 

‘‘Yes, I would like that best. But I am mlling 
to take anything,” added Franklin, quickly. “I 
must be earning some money, now my Uncle Will 
is sick.” 

“There is one place I haven’t tried yet,” went on 
Belden Brice. “It is the Phoenix Electric Fan 
Works. I own some stock in that concern, and I 
think I can get you in there without much trouble.” 

“ Why, that would be just the thing, wouldn’t 

it? Electric fans are in the right line ” began 

Franklin. 

“ They are, that is true, my boy. But the w^orks 
are devoted principally to the manufacturing of 
the fans, and only a few men are employed in the 
electrical department . ’ ’ 

“ Perhaps if I get work there I can prove that I 
am best fitted for the electrical department ” 

“I thought of that. But I have one strong ob- 
jection to seeing you go to work at the Phoenix 
shops. The class of hands employed there are, on 
the average, hardly fit to associate with a refined 
boy like yourself. When the shops were first 
opened all the other factories in Paterson were run- 
ning full time, and, as a consecjuence, it was hard 
to get good hands. Our superintendents were not 
careful, and I understand that at-* present we have 
some very undesirable workmen on our payrolls.” 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN, 


71 


“That’s' too bad, certainly. But if I went to 
W'Ork there I guess I could keep away from 
them ” 

“And not be led astray?” questioned Belden 
Brice, keenly, “ Many of the men drink and swear, 
and use tobacco, and many other undesirable 
things which I know you are above doing.” 

“They could not make me do what I did not 
wish to do,” said Franklin firmly. “I would do 
my work and go my own way, and that wguld be 
the end of it.” 

“ Good ! Then we will walk down to the shops 
at once. Of course, if the place grows distasteful 
to you, you can give it up at any time.” 

Quarter of an hour later they were on their way 
to the Phoenix Electrical Fan Works, which were 
situated down in the factory district, among the 
silk mills. Reaching the office, they entered, and 
Belden Brice called for Thomas Buckman, the chief 
superintendent. 

“Here is a young friend of mine who wants em- 
ployment,” explained the speculator. “He takes 
to electricity, and I have an idea he will some day 
make his mark in it. Have you any place open for 
him?” 

The superintendent, a small man with an unusu- 
ally shrewd cast of countenance, eyed Franklin 
critically. 

“ Want a job, eh? Well, I don’t know. We are 


72 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


pretty full just now. What kind of woi’k were you 
looking for?” he added, addressing the young elec- 
trician directly. 

‘‘I was wishing for something connected with 
electricity, but I am willing to fill any position 
that is vacant.” 

‘‘He understands quite a bit about electrical ap- 
paratus,” put in Belden Brice in a low tone, as 
he pulled the superintendent to one side. “He is 
crazy on the subject, and he ought to make a good 
hand in the motor department.” 

Thomas Buckman rubbed his chin refiectively. 

“ Well, I guess I can place him there,” he said. 

“I’ve got two men on one of the benches, but 
there’s room for a third, and, seeing it’s you that 
ask it, Mr. Brice, I’ll squeeze him in.” He turned 
to the young electrician : “You can come to work 
in the morning.” 

“Thank you, Sir,” 

“And about pay?” asl^d Belden Brice. 

“I will pay him what he proves himself to be 
worth. It is all piece work in the motor depart- 
ment you know.” 

At this moment the superintendent was called 
aw^ay, so, without keeping him longer, the specula- 
tor took his departure, followed by Franklin. 

“Have you found a place to stop at?” ques- 
tioned Belden Brice, suddenly. 

“No, Sir. But I guess I can find a boarding house 
somewhere in town.” 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


73 


‘‘No doubt you can. But you need not be in a 
hurry. You can stop at my house for the balance 
of this week. I will have a room set aside for 
you.” 

Franklin demurred, but Belden Brice insisted, 
and finally it was arranged as the speculator had 
mentioned. Then the young electrician took a 
train, and went home to tell the news, and get his 
trunk full of things. 

He was on hand early on the following morning, 
and without much ceremony was set to work be- 
side two older boys. The work of the three con- 
sisted of polishing up the completed motors and 
placing them in square japanned cases. For this 
labor they were allowed four cents and a half on 
each piece. 

Franklin soon acquired the knack of doing the 
work, and went at it with a will. He was naturally 
handy, and by noontime could do the work almost 
as well as his two companions. 

“Say, you don’t want to work too fast,” grum- 
bled Bob Jackson, one of the other boys, a clumsy 
specimen of the toughest class of factory hands. 
“ If you do that, you’ll get too much done, and then 
the boss will cut down the price per piece.” 

“ But the work can be done much faster than we 
are now doing it,” returned Franklin. “ It is very 
simple.” 

“It can’t be done no faster,” put in Mike Nolan, 


74 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


the other boy. ‘‘I’ve worked at it nearly a year 
and I know.” 

As Mike Nolan was very awkward and very lazy, 
PVanklin did not doubt but that he had reached 
his limit. He was not one to take a single step in 
advance during his whole life. 

“You ought to do less, for a starter,” went on 
Bob Jackson. “I only earned two and a half the 
first week I was here.” 

“I want to earn all I can,/ was the young elec- 
trician’s reply. 

“No, you don’t!” 

“Not much!” added Mike Nolan. “You slow up 
after dinner. If you do as much as us, old Buck- 
man will think we’ve been loafing before.” 

“I shall certainly not slow up,” said Franklin, 
with spirit. “ I need the money, and I am going to 
earn it.” 

“All right, then, we’ll see about it,” returned 
Bob Jackson, his face growing dark and ugly. 
“You keep on this afternoon and see what you’ll 
get when we quit to-night.” 

“You had better mind what Bob says,” added 
Mike Nolan, significantly. “We ain’t going to let 
no new fellow come in and hurt our job for us. If 
you want to keep in with us, you have got to do 
as we want you to ; see ? 

And with determined looks on their anything but 
handsome faces, the two boys strode off, leaving 
Franklin in a decidedly uncomfortableframeof mind. 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN, 


75 


CHAPTER X. 

A HARD PLACE TO FILL. 

^FTER their brief but somewhat heated discus- 
sion, Franklin watched Bob Jackson and Mike 
Nolan hurry away to a near-by restaurant, and 
then walked slowly away to a quiet corner where 
he might eat the lunch Belden Brice’s house-keeper 
had put up for him. 

Those fellows will certainly try to do me harm 
unless I comply with their demands,” reasoned the 
young electrician to himself, as he sat down in a 
sunny corner and began to munch a sandwich. 
“But I can’t see what right they have to dictate 
as to how much I shall do. I want to earn all I 
can and I’ll never do it if I listen to them. What 
is best to be done?” 

It was easy for Franklin to ask himself this ques- 
tion, but it was much more difficult, if not impos- 
sible, to answer it. The young electrician pon- 
dered over the matter all the while he was eating 
and yet, when the last crumb was consumed, he 
had arrived at no definite conclusion. 

For one brief instant the thought came to his 


76 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN, 


mind to speak to the Superintendent about the 
matter, but Franklin thrust the thought aside im- 
mediately. Come what might, he would fight his 
own battles. 

When the whistle blew to resume work the young 
electrician went ahead as if nothing had been said 
to ruffle his mind in the least. He noticed that 
both of his fellow-workmen cast dark glances to- 
wards him, and more than once stepped aside to 
whisper together. Evidently they were plotting 
mischief. 

About the middle of the afternoon Nolan caught 
him by the arm just as he was sitting down on one 
of the motors upon which he had been working. 

‘^Mind what we told you,” he said in a low tone. 
“We won’t stand any nonsense ! ” 

“I understand my own business best,” returned 
Franklin. “And if you want to avoid trouble you 
had better mind yours.” 

“Then you ain’t going to go it slow? 

“No. I need money, and I intend to earn it — if I 
can.” 

“Well, you won’t earn much of it here, I can tell 
you that,” growled Mike Nolan, and he left the 
young electrician and hurried to Bob Jackson’s 
side. 

Nothing more was said during the remainder of 
the afternoon. When quitting time came both 
Jackson and Nolan cast aside their jumpers in a 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


77 


hurry and left the workshop before Franklin was 
half ready to take his departure. 

Well, I’m glad they are gone,” thought the boy. 
“I was afraid they would try to pick a quarrel as 
soon as the whistle blew. Perhaps they have 
reached the conclusion that they had better leave 
me alone.” 

Frankhn washed up and brushed off his clothing, 
and then, with his little dinner basket on his arm, 
sallied forth. It was nearly quarter to six and 
quite dark on this Winter day. It had been snow- 
ing for over an hour, and the ground was covered 
to the depth of several inches. Out on the nearest 
corner over a dozen boys were having a lively 
time of it snowballing each other. Their antics 
amused Franklin not a little, and he stopped for 
several minutes to watch the sport. Had he known 
the boys, he would not have minded taking a hand 
himself. 

The nearest cut to Belden Brice’s residence lay 
through a number of side streets, lined with small 
factories and tenements. It was not a nice way to 
walk, but to this Franklin paid small attention, 
his one thought being to get to the residence in 
time for supper, for he did not wish to keep the 
table waiting— now that Belden Brice had been 
kind enough to insist upon his staying the week 
out at the place. 

As the young electrician was hurrying along^ 


78 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


trying to add up in his head the exact amount he 
had earned that day, a snowball came whizzing 
across the street and took him in the ear with such 
force that he staggered and almost fell. While he 
was trying to recover, another snowball followed 
and landed upon his chin, causing him to slip and 
fall flat upon his back. 

Franklin lost no time in scrambling to his feet. 
His ear and chin pained not a little, for the snow- 
balls had been ‘‘soakers,” almost as hard as stone. 
But to this he paid no attention, his one thought 
being to discover who his assailant was. 

He noted the direction from which the snowballs 
had come and then made off on a run. Opposite 
was a high board fence, enclosing a factory yard, 
and springing over this he was just in time to 
catch sight of two boys hurrying to an exit in the 
rear. The two boys were Bob Jackson and Mike 
Nolan. 

“ So it was you two who threw those snowballs, 
eh?” cried Franklin, in not an over-pleasant 
tone. 

“Yes, it was,” retorted Jackson, as became to 
a sudden halt. “And what are you going to make 
out of it?” he added, with a swagger. 

“It wasn’t a very smart thing to do, to use 
soakers on a fellow when I wasn’t looking,” went 
on Franklin. 

“Say, are you looking for trouble with us?” de- 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


79 


manded Mike Nolan, sticking out his dirty chin in 
a decidedly offensive manner. 

I am looking for trouble with no one,” retorted 
the young electrician. ^‘But you evidently are. 
In the future I want both of you to leave me 
alone.” 

Oh. ho ! hear me talk,” cried the Irish boy, sar- 
castically. “ I own the hull of Paterson, I do !” 

‘‘Maybe you want to fight?” queried Bob Jack- 
son, as he came up closer, with his fists clinched. 

“ I do not wish to fight — but I can take my own 
part,” replied Franklin sharply. “If you desire 
to—” 

The young electrician had no time to finish. 
Muttering something under his breath Jackson 
shot out with his right fist, intending to strike 
Franklin between his eyes. 

But the boy was on his guard. He stepped to 
one side. Bob Jackson’s fist cut through empty 
space. An instant later the would-be bully came 
down on his hands and knees, laid low by a quick 
and sturdy twist of Franklin’s left foot. 

“Say — what— what do you mean by that?” 
stammered Jackson, as he essayed to rise. 

“Next time don’t you be so quick to strike at a 
person,” returned Franklin. “Say, what do you 
mean by knocking Bob down?” growled Mike 
Nolan, springing in. “ Bob’s my friend, and I don’t 
allow no fellow to hit him, see?” 


80 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTBICIAN. 


“You keep quiet,” said the young electrician. 
“This is his affair and mine. I would not have 
tripped him up had he not attempted to strike 
me.” 

“ We’ll see,” grumbled Mike Nolan. 

He caught Bob Jackson by the arm and turned 
him away for a moment, whispering into his ear in 
the meanwhile. Then he faced Franklin once more. 

“ I’m going to teach you a lesson,” he exclaimed. 
“We don’t allow no new hand to ride over us ! ” 

He clenched his fists and struck out wildly at the 
young electrician, who, throwing down his lunch 
basket, parried the blows to the best of his ability. 
At the same time. Bob Jackson sneaked round to 
Franklin’s rear. 

Seeing their game, the young electrician sprang 
away to one side and started for the high board 
fence, intending to brace up against that and pre- 
vent an attack from the rear. 

“ Give it to him from the back. Bob ! ” cried Mike 
Nolan, chagrined to learn that his plan was evi- 
dently to miscarry. “ I’ll take care of him in front 
all right.” 

“He’s getting up to the fence,” returned Bob 
Jackson, trying in vain to commence the attack 
behind Franklin’s back. 

“ Shove him away ! ” 

“ That’s what I’m going to do,” puffed Bob 
Jackson. 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


81 


He laid one hand upon the young electrician^s 
shoulder. The next moment Franklin wheeled 
about and hit him hard, directly between the eyes, 
a blow which sent him staggering with a crash 
against the fence. 

How the unequal fight would have terminated is 
hard to say. At that moment the door of one of 
the near-by factory buildings opened and three 
men came out. 

‘‘Hi, get out of this yard!” shouted one of the 
men, savagely. “We don’t allow boys in here! 
Get out, I say, or I’ll have the three of you locked 
up!” 

“IFs old Momper!” growled Mike Nolan, under 
his breath. “Come on. Bob, the fight is done for 
this trip!” and he leaped over the fence, quickly 
followed by his companion. 

“Did you hear wFat I said?” demanded the man 
of Franklin. “ Skip now, and be hvely.” 

At first Franklin was on the point of stopping to 
explain matters. Then he changed his mind, and 
picking up his lunch basket he departed in the same 
manner as his assailants. 

Once more on the street he looked around for 
Jackson and Nolan. Nothing was to be seen of 
them, and with his eyes wide open to keep from 
being surprised, Franklin continued on his way to 
Belden Brice’s residence and soon reached the place 
in safety. 


82 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN, 


CHAPTER XI. 

FRANKLIN SHOWS HIS GRIT. 

On entering the house Franklin at once made his 
way to his own room, and here speedily removed 
all signs of his late struggle with his fellow-work- 
men. He thought the matter over and decided 
to say nothing of the affair to any one and to 
allow matters to take their own course. 

On the following morning when he went to work 
Jackson and Nolan both came in late. Each 
looked keenly at Franklin, who returned their gaze 
steadily, but not a word was spoken upon either 
side. Yet it was evident that both sides were at 
swords’ points. 

“They will try some underhand game,” thought 
Franklin. “Even with two to one they are afraid 
to tackle me openhanded.” 

But if the young electrician was right it was 
evident that Bob Jackson and Mike Nolan were 
going to take their time about it. The whole of 
that day passed, and also many others and noth- 
ing out of the ordinary occurred. 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


83 


During this time, Franklin grew more proficient 
in his work, and on the third day turned out fully 
as much as either of his fellow- workmen. It was 
evident that by the end of a week or ten days he 
would be able to do at least ten per cent, more 
than they. Jackson and Nolan saw this, but, 
strange to say, still kept their mouths closed 
about it. 

Franklin had been making many inquiries con- 
cerning boarding places, and finally found some- 
thing w^hich just suited him. A real old motherly 
lady had a hall bedroom to spare, and agi^eed to 
board him for four dollars a week, and this Frank- 
lin readily accepted. He calculated that he would 
make at least nine or ten dollars a week at his 
work and this would leave him five to send to his 
aunt weekly. Not a large sum, but one he knew 
would come in very acceptably. 

Franklin made himself agreeable to all of the 
others in the the shop, but, as he was naturally 
above them, and they knew it, there was not one 
of them took to him. Some of the young fellows 
began to call him Softy, and the smaller boys 
would cut up behind his back, making grimaces at 
which their companions would roar. They called 
him the gent that was going to buy out the works 
next week and wanted to know from each other 
why he didn’t wear white gloves when at his bench. 
They also tacked his polishing rags fast, and more 
than once hid his tools. 


84 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


Franklin took all these petty annoyances good- 
naturedly, and went his own way. He was in 
hopes of ere long getting into the regular electrical 
department, where, he felt certain, he would be bet- 
ter treated. 

But one day something happened which brought 
the boy’s true character to the surface, and sur- 
prised even those who had imagined he had some 
“sand” in him. 

Among the boys who worked in the far corner of 
the shop, boxing screws, was a pale and sickly 
lame lad not over twelve years of age. The lad’s 
name was Harry Leclair, and he was the only son 
of a widow who was once well-to-do, but was now 
exceedingly poor. There was something the mat- 
ter with Harry’s left foot, which caused him to cut 
an awkward figure when he walked, and in addi- 
tion to this the poor boy was not over bright, he 
having suffered from a fall upon his head when an 
infant. 

The boys and young fellows in the shop never 
tired of poking fun at this lad, much to Franklin’s 
disgust. They would steal his crutch and his over- 
coat, and once they took his hat and compelled 
him to walk home bareheaded, and they did a 
thousand and one other things to worry and an- 
noy him. 

Harry Leclair was not one to take these matters 
calmly, and he would scold and rave at them, and 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN 


85 


this would only make others roar with laughter, 
for they knew he was too small to attack them. 
And, besides this, his head being weak, he would, 
when excited, say all sorts of strange things, and 
this would add to their senseless amusement. 

‘‘They ought to have sense enough to leave the 
poor fellow alone,” Franklin thought more than 
once. “If they keep on, one of these days he will 
become insane, and do something desperate.” 

The young electrician endeavored to make a 
friend of the weak-minded lad, but was unsuccessful. 
Harry had been tormented so much that he was 
suspicious of everybody, and he only thought 
Franklin’s advances the forerunner of more cruel 
jokes at his expense. 

On the day in question it was snowing heavily, 
and the ground was covered to the depth of a foot 
or more. A keen north wind was blowing, making 
it cold even in the shop, which was heated by 
steam pipes. 

Harry had complained of his feet being cold, and 
right before quitting time one of the young fellows 
had advised him to take off his shoes and warm 
his feet on the pipes under his bench. He had re- 
moved his shoes, and no sooner had they been 
placed on the floor than they were snatched up 
and carried off. 

“Here come back with my shoes !” cried the lame 
boy, wrathfully, but the fellow who had taken 
them only laughed and so did his companions. 


86 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


‘‘Fill them with snow for Limpy,’’ suggested 
one. 

“Stick ’em in a tub of ice water and cool ’em 
off,” added another. 

“Not much,” shouted the one who had taken up 
the shoes. “I’m going to take them home with 
me and give them to me brother,” and he winked 
at his companions. 

“ I want my shoes, Felter ! Give them right back 
to me!” cried Harry, in wdld alarm, and he started 
after the boy, who was making for the door, for 
the whistle had just blowm. 

“You’ll have to go home barefooted, Limpy,” 
returned Felter, heartlessly. “It’s all right, 
though, the snow will twist your ugly stump into 
shape, maybe.” 

“If you don’t give me my shoes I’ll — I’ll kill you,” 
shrieked Harry, flying into a sudden rage, as he 
saw the boy spring out of his reach into the deep 
snow. 

“What do you want to tease the poor boy in 
that way for?” demanded Franklin, who had wit- 
nessed the whole scene. “He may catch his death 
of cold if he goes out in the snow in his stocking 
feet.” 

“What do I care if he does!” retorted Felter, 
roughly. “I’d like to know w’hat business this is 
of yours?” he added with a dark look. 

“I won’t seethe poor boy abused, that’s how 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


87 


much business it is of mine,” was Franklin’s sharp 
reply. Give me those shoes.” 

And without waiting he caught hold of the shoes 
and twisted them from Felter’s grasp. 

“Stop!” roared Felter. “Give those back, 
Softy, or we’ll have a big row right here. I’m 
going to do as I please with them.” 

“Give it to him, Felter!” put in Bob Jackson, 
eagerly. “ I’ll stand by you !” 

“So will I!” added Mike Nolan. “He wants 
taking down. Give him one in the nose!” 

“I will if he don’t give the shoes back,” growled 
Felter, doubling up his big fists. 

Felter was over twenty years of age and a heavy- 
weight. He glared down at Franklin as if fully 
confident of crushing the young electrician were it 
necessary. 

“The shoes go to Harry,” was all Franklin said, 
and running back he handed the pair to the lame 
boy, who at once proceeded to put them on. 

“You soft-hearted dude!” cried Felter, in a rage, 
“I’ll make it warm ioryou for spoiling our fun. 
How do you like that?” 

That was a heavy blow delivered right from the 
shoulder and intended to land upon Franklin’s 
face and take him off his feet. But the young 
electrician was on his guard and he ducked quickly, 
and Felter’s fist only struck in a spent way upon 
Mike Nolan’s chest, for the Irish boy had been on 
the point of attacking Franklin from the rear. 


88 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN, 


All of those employed in the shop immediately? 
gathered around Felter and Franklin, Jackson 
and Nolan pressing close upon the young electric 
cian. 

Franklin saw that it was more than likely that 
the contest would be an unequal one, yet he did 
not attempt to run away. He felt that he must now 
show his true colors or forever after obey whenevei 
called upon to do so. 

“Stand back or take the consequences!” he 
cried, as calmly as he could. “I warn you that J 
am not to be trifled with 1” 

“Oh, ho!” hear him talk!” retorted Felter, 
mockingly, and once more he launched out at 
Franklin. 

The second blow landed upon the young electri- 
cion’s shoulder. It was not heavy, but it seemed 
to arouse all of the lion in his nature. He stepped 
back, bumping up against Bob Jackson in doing 
so, and the next instant Felter received such a 
swift and surprisingly heavy blow in the temple 
that he keeled over flat upon his back and all but 
senseless. 

For the moment after Felter went down there 
was a dead silence in the factory yard’ The unex- 
pected had happened and no one knew what to 
say. 

“What — what — ” stammered the heavyweight, 
as he rolled over and essayed to rise to his feet. 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


89 


‘‘Have you had enough?” demanded Franklin, 
as he stood over him, his hst still doubled up and 
his eyes flashing. 

“That wasn’t fair!” muttered Felter, unable to 
say anything more. With his face full of passion 
he rose to feet and put his hand to his forehead, 
where a blackish lump was rapidly rising. 

“It was as fair as your two blows were,” retort- 
ed Franklin. “It was yourself forced the flght.” 

“Go for him again, Felter!” shouted Jackson, 
we’ll back you up !” v 

“ Of course we will !” added Mike Nolan* “ Don’t 
let a little blow like that worry you !” 

“It ain’t worrying me!” growled Felter, and 
once more he sprang forward, resolved to annihi- 
late the young electrician. 

Franklin stood his ground and warded off Fel- 
ter ’s wild passes as best he could. Then the two 
clenched and went down in the snow, and on top of 
them came Jackson and Nolan, who now thought 
they saw a chance of “squaring accounts.” 

“Give it to Softy!” 

“ We don’t want no dudes in this shop !” 

“ Send him home to be put in a glass case I 

These and a dozen other things rang out on the 
cold, snowy air, bringing to the scene a score of 
workmen from other parts of the works. 


90 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


CHAPTER XII. 

A PLOT AGAINST FRANKLIN. 

^‘What’s up?” 

Felter is teaching the new fellow a lesson !” 

‘‘We don’t want him here and we want him to 
know it!” 

“This ain’t fair I” shrieked Harry Leclair, as he 
came limping forward, his shoes once more in their 
proper places, “ He only did what was right. Let 
him up, you Jackson and Nolan!” 

The lame boy forced his way through the crowd 
to the front. In the meantime Franklin had gotten 
the best of Felter, and had him down on his back. 
But Jackson and Nolan were raining blows thick 
and fast over the young electrician’s head and 
shoulders. 

Seeing he could not make the last two named 
cease their unfair attack, the lame boy was seized 
with a sudden idea. He caught up his crutch, and 
without warning struck Jackson and Nolan two 
blows in quick succession with the shoulder end. 

“Oh, murder!” roared the Irish boy, in surprise 
and pain. “ Stop that ! Do you want to kill me ?” 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


91 


“Get up off him then!” returned Harry. “He 
did me a good turn and I’m going to stand by 
him. Get up, quick!” 

He struck at Nolan again, and to avoid the 
crutch the Irish boy was compelled to spring away. 
Jackson had already retreated and with these two 
gone Franklin had no difficulty in regaining his 
feet. Felter rose slowly and painfully, having had 
the wind knocked completely out of him. 

“This is noway to fight,” put in one of the work- 
men from the other shop. “ Why don’t you go at 
it man to man?” 

“I’m not in favor of fighting,” said Framklin. 
“I was only defending myself. He stole Harry’s 
shoes, and was going to make him walk home 
barefooted, and I wouldn’t allow it.” 

“You’re a good fighter,” put in the lame boy, 
with a grimace. “ If I had been you I would have 
killed him. ” 

Jackson and Nolan wished to have it out with 
Harry for hitting them with the crutch, but some 
of the men interfered at this, and the lame boy 
soon got away untouched, at least for the time 
being. 

Seeing that the men would not allow the others 
to help him, and being somewhat afraid of Frank- 
lin now, Felter did not again attack the young 
electrician. He muttered something about having 
to get home and settling it another time, and then 


92 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


gradually moved off, leaving Franklin master of 
the field. 

am certainly not going to have an easy time 
of it in that factory,” said Franklin to himself, as 
he brushed himself off and started for his boarding 
house, the jeers of half a dozen boys ringing in his 
ears. ‘^Mr. Brice was right; they are the lowest 
class of working people, and as long as I refuse to 
associate with them they will do what they can not 
only to make it unpleasant, but also to injure me.” 

On the following morning Franklin went to work 
as usual. The others said but little to him, but he 
readily saw that they were but waiting their oppor- 
tunity. Felter’s looks were particularly dark and 
full of revenge. 

Franklin was glad when Saturday night came 
and he was able to pay a visit to his Uncle Wilks 
home and remain until Sunday night. He found 
his uncle much improved in health and able to sit 
up in bed. He was asked how he liked his work, 
and he replied that it was not just what he desired, 
but was good enough. He did not mention the 
quarrels he had had, realizing that this would only 
worry his relatives without doing any good. 

When the young electrician returned to work on 
Monday morning he found the carpenters and ma- 
chinists in charge of the shop. Extensive altera- 
tions were to be made, and during that time he and 
his fellow-workmen were to work in a corner of 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


another building belonging to the works, the 
building which contained* nearly all of the heavy 
machines used in manufacturing the electric fans. 

Franklin was not sorry for the change, for he 
wished to get where he could watch the machines 
and see how they were handled, especially those 
which pertained more particularly to electricity. 

At noon he struck up an acquaintance with one 
of the machinists, who was one of the best electri- 
cians in the place. This man’s name was Darwin, 
and he saw at once that Franklin was not of the 
common run of working boys. He questioned 
Franklin a good deal, and was surprised at the 
knowledge displayed. 

‘‘You ought to be in this department, and not 
out there boxing motors,/ said Darwin. “We can 
use more brains here.” 

“It is my intention to get here, ’’returned Frank- 
lin. “I want to become a thorough electrician.” 

“ Well, stay where Jyou are for the present, and 
when there is an opening in this department. I’ll 
speak to Mr. Buckman for you,” replied Darwin. 

Franklin’s fellow-workers saw the friendship 
springing up between the young electrician and 
Darwin, and it made them more sour than ever. 

“He’s trying to work his cards to get ahead of 
us,” said Felter to Bob Jackson. “Hang me if I 
don’t wish I could find out some way to get square 
with him.’’ 


94 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


We ought to do something to get him bounced,” 
returned Jackson, and Mike Nolan, who had over- 
heard what was said, nodded approvingly. 

‘‘I would rather cripple him, the beggar!” mut- 
tered Felter. wonder if we can’t fix it to have 
something fall on his foot or knock his arm out of 
joint, or something like that?” 

But this was going to far for Jackson and Nolan. 
They would have liked it well enough, but did not 
have the courage to take the risk of such a das- 
tardly proceeding, knowing that if discovered they 
could be sent to prison for the deed. 

“If we get him bounced that will be enough,” 
said Jackson. “He won’t find it an easy matter 
to get another job in the dead of Winter.” 

“You’re right he won’t,” added Nolan, “especi- 
ally if he has’nt any recommendation from the 
firm here.” 

The three talked the matter over for some time, 
and finally decided on a plan which they concluded 
to carry into effect without delay. 

Among his possessions Franklin had a highly 
prized knife, which had been given to him by his 
cousins on his last birthday. The handle of this 
affair, which possessed five blades and a file, was of 
pearl and contained a plate with his full name en- 
gi^aved upon it. 

This knife the others in the shop had seen him use 
on a number of occasions. Once Bob Jackson had 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


95 


tried to borrow it, but Franklin had declined to 
loan it to the youth, satisfied that he would have 
considerable trouble in getting* it back. 

On the day following the talk between Felter, 
Jackson and Mike Nolan, Franklin, on reaching 
his boarding house, discovered that his knife was 
missing. 

The young electrician was much worried, for he 
could remember having used the blade during 
working hours. He fancied he might have lost it 
on his way home, and tramped back to the factory 
through the snow searching for it. 

He did not find the knife, and as the factory was 
locked up he was compelled to return to his board- 
ing house without pursuing his investigations 
further. 

On the following morning Franklin started for 
work earlier than usual, resolved to devote his 
spare time to hunting the knife up if it was any- 
where around the workshop. The idea that Jack- 
son had stolen it from his pocket had never entered 
his mind. 

When the young electrician entered the main 
works he saw at a glance that something unusual 
had happened. A group of men, including Mr, 
Buckman, were standing around one of the costli- 
est of the machines, talking excitedly, 

^‘It’s an outrage!” the superintendent was ex- 
claiming. ‘‘An outrage to ruin such a costly ma- 


96 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


chine! I only wish I knew who had done the 
deed!” 

“There is a broken knife here among the cog- 
wheels which has caused the mischief, Mr. Buck- 
man,” said one of the workmen, as he brought 
forth a battered and twisted object. “A common 
pocketknife — no, quite a fancy one, with a name on 
the handle.” 

“Let me see the knife!” cried the superintendent, 
eagerly. “ What’s this, Franklin Bell!” he went on 
as he read the name on the handle. He looked 
around and espied the young electrician. “Bell, 
come here and explain this at once!” 



‘‘Bell, come here and explain this at once!” 


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BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


97 


CHAPTER XIII. 

THE BROKEN MACHINE. 

For the moment Franklin was so bewildered by 
what was taking place that he could not reply to 
the superintendent’s demand for an explanation, 
and it was not until Mr. Buckman had caught him 
by the arm and given him a vigorous shake that 
he blurted out : 

Oh, sir, is that really my knife?” 

‘Ht has your name on it. Bell. It is not likely 
that any person would put that on a knife that 
was not yours.” 

‘^Yes, it is my knife,” said Franklin, somewhat 
sadly, as he took the twisted object in his hand and 
turned it over. 

“ Too bad I It is spoilt for good !” 

Never mind about the knife being spoilt,” re- 
turned the superintendent, roughly. ‘‘Something 
far more valuable has suffered, and that is this 
machine here. Your knife has completely ruined 
it, and it cost a thousand dollars and more!” 

“Ruined it!” ejaculated Franklin. “That is 
really too bad ! And how did it happen?” 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


“That’s what we want to know. You dropped 
the knife in bv accident, did you?” 

“I didn’t drop the knife in at all,” returned 
Franklin. “The knife has been missing since yes- 
terday afternoon.” 

“ Ah, I see. Whom did you lend it to?” 

“No one, sir.” 

“You are certain?” 

“Positive, sir.” 

“ When did you handle it last?” 

“I used it at noon time to cut up an apple with.” 

“And put it in your pocket after you had 
finished?” 

“Yes, sir, and I did not miss it until I was nearly 
home in the evening.” 

“Humph!” The superintendent mused for a 
moment. “Were you near this machine yester- 
day?” 

“No,” returned Franklin, hesitatingly. He was 
trying to think if he was mistaken. 

“Tell me the truth. Bell.” 

“ I was no nearer the machine than l am now. I 
had to pass the machine when carrying the motors 
to my bench yonder.” 

“This machine was not running after three 
o’clock yesterday,” put in one of the workmen. 

“ The knife could have been dropped in any time 
after that. The mischief was done, you know, 
when the machine was tried this morning.” 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


99 


^‘Yes, I know/’ returned the superintendent, 
sharply. Does any one know who dropped that 
-knife in the machine?” he asked, in a loud voice, 
of the new-comers on the scene. 

What’s the trouble?” asked Felter, pushing his 
way through the crowd and bestowing a dark look 
upon Franklin. 

He was told by a fellow worker and at once 
turned to the superintendent. 

“Bell threw that knife in himself,” he said. 

“He did?” cried several, in astonishment, for 
they had just listened to Franklin’s denial. 

“He did — or, at least, he was tinkering on the 
Machine with it,” went on Felter. 

“Did you see him?” demanded Mr. Buckman. 

“1 did, sir. He was around the machine just 
before quitting time yesterday.” 

“That is not true, Mr. Buckman!” burst out 
Franklin, indignantly. 

“It is true,” retorted Felter, with a wicked smile 
at the boy he was trying to injure. “I saw him 
and so did some of the others, I guess.” 

“I saw him,” put in Mike Nolan, who had entered 
with Felter. “He was using one of the blades of 
the knife to lift the oil-plate with . I thought he 
was trying to learn how the machine worked, for 
he’s always tinkering around the machines every 
chance he gets.” 

As this last statement was known to be in the 


100 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN 


main true, Felter and Nolan’s story was readily 
believed by the other workmen, and several who 
did not bear the young electrician any good will 
did not know but that they did remember seeing 
him at the machine just before they left for home 
the evening before. 

Mr. Buckman listened to what they had to say 
with keen interest. At the conclusion he turned to 
Franklin with a face that was full of anger. 

“Now, Bell, what have you to say? Don’t you 
think you had better acknowledge the truth?” 

‘ ‘ Mr. Buckman, ’ ’ began Franklin, earnestly. ^ ^ I 
have told you the truth. I was not near the 
machine and I certainly never used my knife on the 
oil-plate or on any other part of it.” 

“But these workmen saw you.” 

“Felter and Nolan are down upou me, every one 
in the shop knows why, and they would willingly 
get me into trouble if they could. Besides, sir, 
look at that kuife. It is a costly one, and was 
given to me by my five cousins on my last birth- 
day, so 1 prize it very highly. If it had dropped in 
the machine from my hand, Avould I not have 
taken the trouble to get it out rather than leave it 
and have it ruined?” 

“Yes, I suppose you would,” returned the super- 
intendent, slowly. “That is, if you could get it,” 
he added, suddenly. “Where do you suppose the 
knife caught, Hardell?” 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


101 


‘‘I don’t see where it could catch excepting be- 
tween the cog-wheels and the plates, sir,” returned 
the workman. “ If it fell down there it’s more than 
likely it couldn’t be got out excepting by taking 
the machine apart, too.” 

“He couldn’t put his hand between the plates 
and draw it out?” 

“I don’t think so, sir. It would be dangerouSj 
as every one knows who has handled the machine.” 

“Oh, he dropped the knife in it, I am certain,” 
put in Felter, spitefully. “ It was more than likely 
he was too scared to get it out. He left in a big 
hurry.” 

“Felter, you are telling an untruth and you 
know it!” burst out Franklin. “I believe it is 
more than likely that you stole the knife from my 
pocket and dropped it in the machine yourself. 
You are just mean enough for such underhanded 
work!” 

“Shut up!” roared the heavyweight, growing 
red in the face, for the shot was too near home to 
be comfortable. “Call me a thief and I’ll pound 
the life out of you I” 

“You tried it once before, but you didn’t suc- 
ceed,” retorted Franklin. 

“Come, come, this won’t dp!” put in the super- 
intendent sternly. “Come to my office. Bell, and 
you, too, Felter and Nolan. I intend to get at the 
bottom of this affair if I can.” 


102 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


The whistle had blown, and at a wave of the su- 
perintendent’s hand all the other workmen depart- 
ed for tlieir various benches and machines. 

Three minutes later Franklin and the others were 
closeted with Mr. Buckman in his private office. 
•Here the whole story was gone over again, and then 
the superintendent asked each of them a great 
number of questions. 

The young electrician told his version as straight- 
forward as possible. He acknowledged that he 
loved to examine the machines and had often done 
so, but denied emphatically that he had been in- 
strumental in mining the particular machine in 
question. 

Felton and Nolan had evidently rehearsed their 
falsehoods beforehand, for they now told them with 
a smoothness that was as astonishing to Frank- 
lin as they were painful. They had seen the young 
electrician at the machine with the knife in his 
hand and they had seen him leave the shop in a 
great hurry a minute or two later. 

When they had all finished Mr. Buckman was 
more puzzled than ever as to what to do. He 
wished to make an example of somebody. But he re- 
membered that Franklin had been recommended to 
him by Belden Brice, and that the speculator 
owned an interest in the Fan Works. It would 
not do to act hastily. 

All of you goto your work,” he commanded, 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


103 


finally. ‘‘I will investigate this when I have more 
time, and you may rest assured that as soon as I am 
certain who the guilty party is, he shall suffer for 
what he has done. And in the future. Bell, I wish 
you to keep away from the machines upon which 
you are not working.” 

Franklin bowed — he could not speak at that 
moment, and then all three of the boys withdrew 
and made their way to the shop. 

Felter was on the point of casting some further 
slur at the young electrician, but a look upon 
Franklin’s face made him change his mind. Had 
he uttered a single word it is more than likely that 
a bitter fight would have been the result, for 
Franklin was in no mood to be trified with after 
having listened to the efforts of the others to ruin 
his reputation. 


104 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


CHAPTER XIA. 

HARRY LECLAIR^S STATEMENT. 

During all of that day and the one following 
Franklin’s thoughts were busy concerning the 
broken machine, and the one who had done the 
mean piece of work. Without seeming to do so he 
watched Felter, Nolan and also Bob Jackson 
closely. 

But his watching was without result, for though 
he often saw his enemies closeted together he could 
not catch their drift of the conversation further than 
that they were disappointed because he had not 
been discharged on the spot by the superintend- 
dent. 

^Ht was their sole aim to get me out of the 
works,” he thought. “They know I can work 
faster than any of them and can, consequently, 
make more, and that sours them. Well I’ll stick 
as long as Mr. Buckman will let me.” 

Frank wondered if the superintendent would 
speak to Belden Brice about the matter, but he was 
too proud to make inquiries on the point, nor did 
he even call at the speculator’s residence for some 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN 


105 


time. He was determined, so far as lay in his 
power to fight his own battles. 

Once in coming from work, he met little Cora on 
the street, and had quite a chat with her. She was 
delighted to see him, and chided him for not calk 
ing, at which he excused himself by saying he was 
too tired at night after work to do much of any- 
thing, which was not far from the exact truth. 

On the morning after the scene over the broken 
machine Franklin noticed that Harry Leclair, the 
lame boy, was absent. He thought nothing oi 
this, as the boy remained away more than any 
one else in the shop. Three days later Harry’s 
place was still vacant, and then Franklin learned 
that the lame boy was sick, and it was doubtful if 
he would be able to get around again before 
spring. 

“That’s too bad,” said the young electrician to 
himself, and he resolved to pay a visit to the suf- 
ferer without delay and do what he could towards 
cheering up the simple-minded fellow. 

He found out where Harry Leclair lived — down 
in a wretched tenement in the poorest section of 
Paterson— and that evening, after swallowing a 
hasty supper, trudged off through the snow, carry- 
ing in a bag some fruit and other delicacies he had 
purchased with the change in his pocket. 

Franklin found the right house, but not without 
some difficulty, for it was snowing lieavily and the 


106 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


narrow streets were practically deserted, and, with- 
out knocking upon the door, entered the dark hall- 
way and mounted the stairs to the third floor, 
upon which he had been told the lame boy lived. 

A knock on a rear door brought Mrs. Leclair out 
with a lighted lamp in her hand. She was a woman 
of middle age, not unpleasant in appearance, but 
much broken in health through hard work. 

“I came to see how Harry was getting on,” 
Franklin explained, after he had made sure he was 
addressing the lame boy’s mother. “I work in the 
shop vdth him.” 

Foi' a moment Mrs. Leclair eyed the young elec- 
trician suspiciously. Her son had often told her 
how the others in the factorj^ teased him, and she , 
thought Franklin might be one of the tormentors. 

But a second look into the young electrician’s 
open and manly face reassured her, and she invited 
him into her best room. 

Harry is a little better this evening, she said. 
^‘But he had a bad turn of it this morning. He is 
so feverish and wants to drink all the time, and 
asks for fruit, which I can’t afford to give him now 
in the dead of winter, with everything so high.” 

“.Here are some oranges and bananas, and a little 
pot of jelly I brought for him,” replied Franklin. 
“ I thought he might like something like this,” and 
he handed the bag to the poor woman. 

Franklin’s generosity won his way into Mrs. 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


107 


Leclair’s heart at once. She offered him the most 
comfortable chair she possessed, and apologized 
for not having a fire in the little cylinder stove, 
stating that the room in which Harry lay was 
warmed by the fire in the kitchen. Then she asked 
him his name. 

“Mother, tell him to come in,” said a weak voice 
from the bedroom, and Mrs. Leclair at once led the 
way to the sick boy’s side, Franklin close at her 
heels. 

‘ I’m glad somebody has come for once,” mur- 
mured the sufferer, as he held out his wasted hand. 
“ Ever since I have been here no one has called but 
the doctor, and he only a couple of times.” 

“Don’t the neighbors come in?” questioned 
Franklin. 

“No, returned Mrs. Leclair. “They are not our 
kind of people, and we have never associated with 
them. They think us too proud, and I suppose we 
are in a way, for it is only since my husband’s 
death that we came down to life in a tenement 
house. We used to own our own home and have 
plenty.” 

“ It is hard to come down. I know something of 
it, for a few weeks ago I never expected to be em- 
ployed in such a place as the Phoenix Electric Fan 
Works.” . 

“The working people there are not very nice,” 
sighed Mrs. Leclair. “Some of them treat Harry 


108 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN 


shamefully. Here, my boy, Mr. Bell has brought 
you some fruit.” 

Thank you, Franklin. Can I have an orange 
now?” 

“You may have half of one, and the other half if 
you wake up thirsty during the night. We must 
make it last as long as possible, you know.” 

“I’ll get more when I get my next pay,” said 
Franklin, as he took a seat beside the bed while 
Mrs. Leclair dropped into a rocker, after giving 
Harry the half orange on a plate. 

“And how do things go?” questioned the sick 
boy, after eating a section of the fruit with great 
relish. “ Are you back in the old place yet?” 

“No but w^e will be next week. Things are not 
going well with me.” 

“That’s too bad.” Harry ate another portion of 
the orange. “Oh, say, did you get your knife 
back?” he asked, suddenly. 

“My knife!” cried Franklin, in astonishment. 
“What do yon know of my knife?” 

“Why, I saw Bob Jackson take your knife from 
your pocket the afternoon I was taken sick. I 
meant to tell you of it the next day, if he didn’t 
give it back. He would be just mean enough to 
keep it.” 

“So Bob Jackson took it,” cried Franklin, a 
flood of light bursting in on him. “I understand 
It all now. The three are In leairne accainst me, 
planned the whole thing beforenand." 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN, 


109 


Of course, liis last words were all Greek to Harry 
Leclair and his mother. The sick lad asked for an 
explanation, and without more ado Franklin told 
them of all that had happened. 

“ The rascals !” cried the sick boy. But that’s 
the way they all are — ^just as heartless and cruel as 
they can be. They ought all of them to be put in 
prison.” 

“ There ! there ! Harry, don’t excite yourself,” put 
in Mrs. Leclair. ‘‘ I am resolved that you shall not 
go back to work there. It is not fit.” 

‘Ht’s lucky I came here to-night,” said Frankhn, 
thoughtfully. ‘‘But, then, I don’t know,” he add- 
ed, doubtfully. 

“Why, of course it’s lucky,” said Harry. “You 
can now explain to Mr. Buckman — ” 

“Yes, but will he believe me?” He may say that 
Felter’s and Nolan’s words are as good as yours 
and mine. Those fellows may tell him that we are 
friends, and he may think we hatched this story of 
the knife being stolen up between us.” 

“That’s so, I never thought of that,” returned 
the sick boy, his face falling. “But I am telling the 
truth.” 

“I know you are, Harry, but that won’t help 
matters. Of course Jackson will say he never saw 
the knife and lie his way out of it.” 

“Well, can’t you do anything?” 

“I don’t know. I’ll think it over. And in the 


110 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN 


meantime/’ Franklin continued, as he noted how 
feverish the sick boy was becoming, “don’t you 
worry yourself, but take it easy and get strong as 
fast as you can. Those matters are bound to come 
out right in the end.” 

After this the subject was changed, and by the 
time he was ready to leave, the young electrician 
had the satisfaction of seeing that Harry was 
quieted down to such an extent that he was sleepy. 

“I have great hopes that his mind will be clearer 
when he gets over his illness, said Mrs, Leclair, as 
she followed Franklin to the stairs with the lamp. 

“The doctor sa3^s his brain needs nourishment 
and nothing more.” 

“Yes,” returned Franklin. “He seems brighter 
than when he was at work in the factory. “I cer- 
tainly hope he does recover completely.” 

The way to his boarding house through the de- 
serted streets piled high with snow was far from 
agreeable to the young electrician. But he gave 
the elements around him but scant attention, his 
whole mind being engaged upon what had been 
revealed to him. 

“I must watch those fellows closely,” he rea- 
soned. “ Sooner or later they will do or say some- 
thing which will incriminate themselves.” 

At that moment Franklin came to the corner of 
the street in which he lived. Here there was a high 
drift of snow, and deeming it unwise to plow his 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN, 


111 


way through the bank the young electrician started 
to trudge around it. 

As he did so he heard voices on the other side of 
the drift. 

‘^Confound such a night, Mike, w^hy didn’t we do 
the j ob yesterday ? ” 

‘‘Well, I was willing, Jim, but Bob said we had 
better wait, for the watchman would be off duty 
to-night. He’s going to his sister’s wedding in 
Jersey City.” 

Franklin was greatly astonished, for the speakers 
were Mike Nolan and Felter I 


tl2 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


CHAPTEE XY. 

A MIDNIGHT MYSTERY. 

It did not take very deep reasoning npon the 
part of the young electrician to determine that 
Felter and Nolan were out for no good purpose. 
Had their errand been a legitimate one they would, 
doubtless, have chosen a more fitting time. Be- 
sides, what Nolan had said about the watchman 
being off had given Franklin a clew as to where 
they were bound. 

‘^They are going to the factory,” he thought. 

And it is nearly eleven o’clock ! What can be in 
the wind?” 

Felter and Nolan were fioundering through the 
snow drift, and to avoid being seen by them the 
young electrician stepped toward the nearest 
building and crouched down behind a big box used 
for coal. A minute later the two factory hands 
passed him and continued on their way toward the 
fan works. 

Franklin did not hesitate long in making up his 
mind as to what to do 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


113 


“ I’ll follow them and see what thejare up to,” 
he said to himself. ‘‘Perhaps I may be instru- 
mental in stopping some big crime— a robbery or 
something.” 

The young electrician wished that there had been 
a policeman in sight, that he might have enlisted 
the officer’s sympathies in the shadowing of the 
suspected ones. But on such nights as this guard- 
ians of the peace are hard to find. 

Felter and Nolan took the most direct route to 
the factory, passing through several narrow streets 
and alleyways, and never pausing excepting to 
catch their breath after making their way through 
some unusually high snowdrift. Evidently they 
did not dream of being followed, for neither of 
them looked back once during the entire trip. 

Arriving at the factory yard, they walked along 
the high board fence until they came to a place 
where there was a loose board. This they shoved 
to one side, and a second later both disappeared 
from view. 

With his heart beating somewhat stronger than 
usual, Franklin crept up to the opening in the 
fence and peered into the yard. The darkness and 
snow hid all but the gray factory building from 
view, and after a brief deliberation the young elec- 
trician followed in the footprints of those who had 
preceded him. 

Franklin wished that he possessed a weapon of 


114 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


some ;Sbrt. He was without even a stick, and he 
realized that should he be discovered byFelter and 
Nolan the two might make things decidedly warm 
for him. 

‘^They’ll have something to fight for,” he rea- 
soned, ^^and it will be much more than such a 
struggle as we had before.” 

But if he could prevent it, the young electrician 
wished to remain undiscovered, and with this end 
in view he moved forward with extreme caution 
across the yard and into an angle of the building. 

Fortunately the wind had died away and it was 
now still, so that by straining his ears Franklin 
was able to hear the conversation of the twC 
factory hands as they moved about not manj 
yards away. 

“Is the window unlocked?” he heard Nolan ask. 
after a slight scraping sound, similar to that 
which a person would make in climbing upon a 
stone window sill. 

“Yes, the window is unlocked all right enough,” 
Felter replied. “ But it sticks a good deal. Brace 
my left foot a bit, will you?” 

Franklin heard Nolan move around and then 
detected a slight squeak. The squeak was re- 
peated several times as the window Felter was 
opening stuck, owing to the snow packed in the 
frame. 

“Don’t make too much noise,” cautioned the 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


115 


Irish boy. ‘‘Somebody may hear you from the 
street.” 

“Oh, it ain’t likely there is anybody around,” 
returned Felter. “Now it’s open. Who goes in, 
you or I?” 

“I — I don’t know,” faltered Nolan. - 

“Let’s toss up for it.” 

“We can’t toss up in the snow.” 

“Then here. I’ll put a cent in one of my hands. 
The fellow who gets it goes in. Which hand do 
you take?” 

“The left,” returned the Irish boy, after a 
moment of indecision. 

“You’ve won and I go in,” said Felter, a little 
crestfallen. “Mind now and keep a strict watch. 
Have you got the bottle?” 

“Yes, here it is.” 

Something wrapped up in a pajjer was passed 
over, and then Felter climbed through the open 
window into the workshop. 

While he was gone Mike Nolan tramped about 
the yard and listened intently. More than once 
Franklin fancied he would be discovered, but each 
time Nolan just missed him. 

The young electrician was curious to learn what 
Felter was doing inside the works, but he was des- 
tined, for the present, to be kept in the dark. The 
visit inside did not last over two minutes, and 
during that time Franklin was too busy keeping 


116 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


out of Nolan’s way to see or listen for anything 
further. 

When Felter came out again he closed the win- 
dow carefully and ran to where Nolan was stand/ 
ing. 

“Is it all right?’’ questioned the Irish boy, 
eagerly. 

“Yes,” was the laconic answer. “Come on, be- 
fore some one sees us.” 

“Don’t get scared at the last minute,” returned 
Mike Nolan, who, now that the secret task was ac- 
complished was inclined to put on a bold front. 

“If you were so brave why didn’t you go in,” re- 
turned Felter, with something of a sneer. “Come 
on, I say.” and off he started through the fence, 
with the Irish boy losing no time in trotting off 
behind. 

Franklin was in a quandery, not knoA^dng whether 
to follow the pair or go and report the secret mid- 
night visit. He half expected to see a blaze start 
up or hear an explosion, but nothing of the sort 
occurred, everything remained as dark and quiet 
as before. 

“It’s queer, to say the least,” he muttered to 
himself. “They would never come here at this 
hour of the night unless the trip was an important 
one. I wonder if Felter stole something?” 

This was not unlikely, but Franklin could not 
think of anything in the shop worthy of so much 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


117 


trouble and so mucli risk. The loose tools were of 
small value and the machines were too heavy to be 
moved by a single person. 

‘‘He didn’t have time to go through the shop 
and break into the office,” speculated the young 
electrician. “ I would give all I am worth to know 
just what he did do.” 

By this time the pair outside were well on their 
way, and, wondering where they were now bound, 
Franklin slipped through the fence and made after 
them. 

Felter and Nolan lived in the same tenement 
row, and in less than half an hour Franklin tracked 
them to their homes. 

It was now after twelve o^clock. The wind had 
come up once more and it was snowing again. 
Franklin stood on the corner for five minutes turn- 
ing matters over in his mind, then, chilled to the 
bone, he walked to his boarding house, resolved to 
let matters rest until morning. 

The young electrician slept but little that night. 
Half a dozen times he started up, certain he had 
heard the fire bells and that the factory was in 
fiames. At five oclock he was up and dressed and 
ready for breakfast. No sooner had the meal beeu 
served than he packed his lunch basket and started 
for the fan works. 

He was half an hour too early, and the doors 
were still closed. When at last the sleepy time- 


118 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


keeper did appear and open up, the young electri- 
cian was the first liand inside. 

He looked around, but could see nothing which 
looked as if it had been disturbed. 

“If I wasn’t sure it was otherwise, I would think 
I had been dreaming,” he said to himself. “Now, 
what in the world did they do last night?” 

The workmen began to arrive one after another, 
the last batch straggling in just as the seven 
o’clock whistle blew. The whistle had not yet 
ceased its hoarse note when Franklin set to work, 
resolved to earn something extra that day, some- 
thing to be spent in delicacies for Harry Leclair. 

He worked on without interruption for a quarter 
of an hour. In the meantime Felter, Nolan and 
Jackson came in, but none of them appeared to 
notice the young electrician. 

Suddenly Franklin felt a strong hand on his 
shoulder, and looking up he saw Mr. Buckman 
standing beside him. 

“ Out of my way a moment. Bell,” said the super- 
intendent, and he pushed Franklin rudely to one 
side. 

Then the drawer of the bench in which Franklin 
kept some of his tools was pulled open and Mr. 
Buckman felt around in it and soon brought forth 
a bottle wrapped in a newspaper. 

“So I have found you out at last. Bell, have I?” 
cried the superintendent, wrathfully. “I thought I 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN 


119 


would if I kept quiet long enough. You can march 
up to the office and get your pay.’’ 

^^But, Mr. Buckman, what does it mean?” 
gasped the young electrician, taken completely by 
surprise. 

^‘You know well enough, Bell, and I’ll tell you 
right here that I won’t waste words with you. 
After that machine was broken I thought I would 
give you another chance, but now you shall not re- 
main in these works another hour, no, not another 
minute. Take your hat and coat and get your 
pay and leave, and don’t let me ever catch you 
around here again.” 


120 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN, 


CHAPTER XYI. 

BELDEN BRICE SAYS SOMETHING. 

That Mr. Buckman was terribly in earnest conld 
be seen by the firm look about his mouth. His 
face was fairly white and he trembled with sup- 
pressed rage. 

A less courageous youth than Franklin would 
have been frightened into absolute silence. But 
the young electrician’s backbone was of stouter 
material, and, besides, he had an extra courage 
born of desperation. 

“Mr. Buckman,” he began, “you are treating 
me very unfairly. You should at the very least tell 
me why I am discharged.” 

“Tell you?” cried the superintendent, his eyes 
hashing. “What is the use? You know only too 
well. Get out, I say, and the quicker the better.” 

“I won’t get out until you tell me why I am dis- 
charged. I have tried to do my work properly 
and I don’t propose to be treated like a dog.” 

“Stop! stop! I won’t be talked back 'to by one 
of the hands ! I told you to get out, and unless 
you do so I’ll ask one of the men to pitch you 
out.” 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


121 


^‘Then you won’t make any explanation?” 

‘‘No. Now go I” 

For the moment Franklin hesitated, then, as he 
saw the superintendent turn to a couple of brawny 
workmen with the evident intention of having him 
ejected by force, he threw down his tools, picked up 
his hat and coat, and started for the office. 

Evidently the bookkeeper had been expecting 
something of the sort, for he handed over the 
money due Franklin without a word. As he placed 
the amount, which was but a few dollars, in his 
pocket, Franklin turned his clear eyes full upon the 
man behind the desk. 

“Mr. Parker, will you tell me why I am dis- 
charged?” he asked. 

“Well, I guess you know well enough. Bell,” re- 
turned the bookkeeper, sharply. “Mr. Buckman 
don’t take to your monkey shines.” 

“And what sort of monkey shines am I accused 
of?” 

“ Didn’t you smear a lot of liquid glue over that 
new polishing machine and over Felter’s work- 
bench?” 

“I certainly did not!” 

“ Well, they say you did. I don’t know any- 
thing about it.” 

“Who says I did?” 

“I don’t know. Mr. Buckman found it out 
through some of the young fellows, I think. 


122 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


Probably through Nolan, Jackson or Felter/^ 
said Franklin, bitterly. “ They are my enemies.” 

“Yes, I know you had trouble with them be- 
fore.” 

Just then the bookkeeper was called away, and 
Franklin was left standing by the desk alone. The 
mind and heart of the young electrician were full. 
What should he do next? 

“IJl remain here and fight it out!” he said, sett- 
ing his teeth. “Mr. Buckman shall hear what I 
have to say whether he will or not.” 

Close beside the bookkeeper’s desk was a door 
leading to the superintendent’s private office. With- 
out being observed by any one Franklin slipped 
through this door. 

The private office was very plainly furnished, con- 
taining nothing further than a desk and several 
easy chairs. The desk was closed, something Frank- 
lin noted with satisfaction. 

“He can’t think I came in here during his absence 
to pry into his affairs,” he thought, bitterly, and 
sat down in a far corner to wait. 

Nearly half an hour passed— it s^eemed an age to 
the anxious youth— before Thomas Buckman came 
bustling into his office, evidently still strongly ex- 
cited over what had occurred. 

He did not notice Franklin at first, and, walking 
over to his desk, he opened that article of furniture 
with a quick roll and a bang. 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


123 


Then he looked up and espied the young elec' 
1 fician. 

What, you here!” he cried, springing to his feet. 
“ Didn’t I tell you to clear out?” 

‘‘Yes, Mr. Buckman, yon did,” replied Franklin. 
“But I am not going until you give me some rea- 
son for my discharge.” 

“See here. Bell, I am no fool, although perhaps 
yon thought I was when I let the matter of that 
broken machine pass. I caught you fairly this 
time, and you know it. Now, I do not wish to quar- 
rel with you; my time is too valuable for that. 
What I want is that you leave and not come near 
the works again.” 

“I am perfectly wilhng to leave, Mr. Buckman. 
But before I go let me say this much. You are 
treating me unjustly, and some day I will prove it 
to you. I think I know who did the damage that 
has just been done, and I shall make it my business 
to bring the perpetrators to justice. In the mean- 
time — ” 

“In the meantime I want you to leave me alone 1’^ 
shouted the superintendent. “I don’t want to lis- 
ten to your talk. You have already caused more 
trouble in these works than any other workman I 
ever had. There is the door. Clear out, before I 
boot you out!” 

Bed with suppressed rage the unreasonable man 
rushed to the door leading to the street and flung 


124 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN 


it open— to find himself face to face with Belden 
Brice. 

Hullo, Buckman, where bound?” asked the 
speculator, cheerily, as he stood on the doorstep 
stamping the snow from his feet. 

‘‘Oh — ah — good morning,” stammered the super- 
intendent in some confusion. 

“How are you, Franklin?” went on Belden Brice, 
and in another second he was inside the place and 
the door was closed. 

“Good morning, Mr. Brice,” said the young elec- 
trician, joyfully. ‘* I am very glad you have come.” 

“ Why, what’s the matter?” Belden Brice turned 
to the superintendent. “Anything wrong, Buck^ 
man?” 

For he had now noted the enraged look upon the 
man’s features. 

“Yes, I should say there was something wrong,” 
growled the superintendent. 

“Ah, in what way?” 

“He has just discharged me,” put in Franklin, as 
he saw that Thomas Buckman hesitated to reply. 

“Discharged you!” ejaculated Belden Brice in 
astonishment. “That’s bad. What for?” 

“He is an impudent, good-for-nothing fellow,” 
burst out the superintendent. “ I have given him 
two trials and I can’t have him around. He has 
ruined two valuable machines and takes delight in 
playing pranks on the other workmen.” 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


125 


A pained look crossed the speculator’s face. It 
was evident that he took a deep interest in Frank- 
lin and was hurt to learn of anything to the youth’s 
discredit. 

‘‘Franklin, what have you to say? I thought 
you a different kind of a boy,” he said, walking up 
to the young electrician and placing his hand on the 
youth’s shoulder. 

“Mr. Brice, Mr. Buckman is entirely mistaken,” 
was Franklin’s earnest reply. “He has jumped at 
conclusions and will not give me a chance of saying 
a word in my own defense. I did not touch the ma- 
chines of which he speaks, and I haven’t played a 
prank of any sort since I came to work.” 

“Humph!” The speculator in new inventions 
turned to the superintendent. “ Do you hear what 
he says, Buckman?” 

“Oh, yes, he’s talked that way before,” grumbled 
Thomas Buckman. “I reckon I know what I am 
doing.” 

“But haven’t you given him a chance to speak in 
his own lief ense?” 

“There wasn’t anything for him to say. I had 
the evidence againshhim plain enough.” 

“I .would like to hear the particulars of the 
tfeuble.” 

“ Oh, it ain’t worth your time to listen to it,” said 
superintendent, hastily. 

f “Never mind. I have an hour or two to spare. 
I have other business, but that can wait.” 


126 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


Thomas Buckmaii tried to make other excuses, 
but it did not avail him, and at last, with very bad 
grace, he told his story. 

Concerning the particulars of the broken machine 
nothing need be said. In addition to this, a new 
polishing machine had that morning been found 
covered with liquid glue ; Felter’s workbench was 
also smeared full of the stuff. Suspicion had 
pointed to Franklin as the guilty party, and a 
search had revealed the half-empty bottle in his 
workbench drawer. It was remembered by the 
doorkeeper that Franklin l^d been in the shop 
long before any of the other vrorkmen. 

“And now, what have you to say?’’ asked Bel- 
den Brice, turning to the young electrician. 

Franklin first told of the stealing of the knife 
and what Harry Leclair knew of it. 

“You may not believe the boy/' he said'^'^tjie 
superintendent, “yet he tells the truth.” ^ 

Then he went on to tell of the midnight vi^ Fel- 
ter and Nolan had paid to the factory, 
bottle they had mentioned.. Thomas Buefflmn^ 
lip curled in contempt. ■ ' ' 

“You mustn’t expect me t^ believe that 
Bell,” he said. “It is entirely too prepost^ib’l 
“ It is a strange story, yet I believe it, ’ ’ was'^Sekien 
Brice’s comment. “You made aAnistake, Pr.aiik- 
lin, when you did not summon assistance and ^ 
those two young fellows^^arrested?’ 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


127 


‘‘I know I did, sir/’ 

'‘Have you no .testimony whatever to corrobo- 
rate y onr story ? ” 

“I am sorry to say I have not.” 

“How could he have any?” put in the snperin- 
dent. “ It’s the worst fake I ever heard.” 

“Where do Felter and Nolan live?” went on Bel- 
den Brice, without paying any attention to the last 
remark. 

Franklin told him. 

“Perhaps some one in the tenements saw them 
go away and come back.” 

“ That’s so !” cried Franklin. “ If they did, that 
would be something, wouldn’t it?” 

“Where is the bottle of glue, Buckman? That 
may throw some light on the subject.” 

“I left it in the main office,” returned the super- 
intendent. “ But it won’t do any good — ” 

“We might try to sift matters to the bottom 
anyway. Let us have a look at the bottle,” re- 
turned Belden Brice, cutting him short. 

“See here, Mr. Brice, I know my own business,” 
cried Thomas Buckman,; angrily. “I have dis- 
charged Bell and that ought to settle the matter. 
I take no stock in this fairy tale about that mid- 
night visit.” 

“I do, Buckman,” returned the speculator, his 
face flushing. “ This matter is to be investigated. 
Let me tell you something,” he went on, pointedly. 


128 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


“I came here to inform you that I have just pur- 
chased a controlling interest in these works, and 
that hereafter you will look to me for orders in- 
stead of the old board of directors. Will you 
please bring that bottle?” 

Thomas Buckman’sface changed color instantly. 
The announcement that had just been made took 
away his breath. 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN, 


129 


CHAPTEK XYII. 

CLUES AND A CONFESSION. 

You— you have bought a controlling interest in 
the works?” he cried, slowly. 

“Yes. Day before yesterday I purchased Mr. 
Gregory’s interest and yesterday received an option 
on the shares of the Greenwood estate, which will 
be transferred to me to-day.” 

“But— but I thought you— that is— you know 
the works don’t pay very much—” 

“They haven’t heretofore, but they will — after 
some needed improvements have been made. Buck- 
man. But let us settle this matter of the damaged 
machines first.” 

“Certainly, sir, certainly, if you wish it. I will 
get the bottle at once.” 

“Toady!” murmured Belden Brice under his 
breath. 

The superintendent, with his face drawn up into 
a perfect study, disappeared into the main office. 
In a moment he was back, carrying a square bottle 
wrapped up in an old newspaper. 

Belden Brice took the package and first looked 


130 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


at the newspaper. It was a local sheet of an issue 
a week old, and there were no special marks of any 
kind upon it. 

Then the speculator turned his attention to the 
bottle. 

“This is not a regular glue bottle, but. a bottle 
made especially for — ” he read an inscription 
moulded in the glass— “ Farstock’s Acme Pickh 
Works.” 

“Farstock’s Pickle Works!” cried Franklin, sud^ ' 
denly. “ Let me see, I’ve heard of them.” 

“No doubt; they are located in Paterson.” 

“I don’t mean that, but— oh, I remember now! 
Mike Nolan has a brother w^orking in that place.” 

“ One of the boys who came here at midnight?” 

“Yes, sir. It must be a bottle Mike’s brother 
brought home some time.” 

“Bosh!” began Thomas Buckman. But a lool< 
from Belden Brice silenced him. 

“That maybe true,” said the speculator. He 
smelled of the bottle. 

“No pickle smell about it, truly,” he added. “ li 
was a clean bottle when the glue was put into it. 
Buckman, supposing you send for this Mike Nolan ?” 

“Well— if you wish—” 

“Ido. Send the timekeeper after him,” added 
Belden Brice as the superintendent started to go 
himself. 

The man referred to was called in and dispatched 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


131 


on the errand. Evidently Thomas Buckman did 
not like the part the speculator was taking, but he 
could not help himself. 

In a few minutes the Irish boy shuffled in. He 
had not expected a summons to the office and he 
was plainly disconcerted, and this was not changed 
for the better when he saw Franklin sitting on one 
of the chairs beside Belden Brice. 

‘‘You sent for me, Mr. Buckman?” he asked in a 
voice that was far from clear and steady. 

“I sent for you, young man,” said the specu- 
lator. “Sit down.” 

Mike Nolan selected a chair in the furthest corner 
and deposited himself upon it very gingerly, as 
though he was afraid there were hidden pins in it. 

“Now, Nolan, we w^ant you to tell us a straight 
story,” began the speculator. “ Keep quiet, please, 
Mr. Buckman,” he added as the superintendent 
w^as about to speak. “ I will conduct the examina- 
tion.” 

“What do you want me to tell?” faltered Mike 
Nolan. He had always had a dread of that private 
office and Avould have preferred being questioned 
in the workshop. 

“I want you to tell me if it was you, orFelter, or 
Jackson, w^ho proposed the visit to this place at 
midnight last night?” asked Belden Brice quickly 
and severely. 

The question was a stunner for the Irish boy. 


132 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


totally unprepared as he was. It was like a 
thunderclap in a clear sky. He sprang up with a 
cry on his lips and then as suddenly resumed his 
seat. 

‘‘Wha— what’s that?” he stammered. 

“You heard what I said. Who was it proposed 
the visit, Felter, Jackson, or yourself? Tell me 
instantly and tell me the truth.” 

“But, sir— I— I” 

“No lies, now, Nolan, tell me the truth.” 

And, striding over to the Irish boy, the specula- 
tor caught him by the arm. 

“Oh! Don’t, please don’t!” cried Mike Nolan, in 
wild alarm, as visions of arrest and months in jail 
floated across his mind. Had they been seen, or 
had one of his late companions confessed ? How 
much had leaked out ? 

“Are you going to answer me, Nolan?” 

It was like the voice of a judge sounding in his 
ears. He looked up and saw those sharp eyes look- 
ing at him as if to read his innermost thoughts. 
Then his one thought was to save himself. 

“It was Jackson, sir!” he gasped out. “Oh, 
please don’t have me arrested ! It was Jackson 
proposed the whole thing and Felter carried it out.” 

“But you climbed into the window ” 

“No, no; it was Felter, sir. I only came along. 
I didn’t want to, but Felter made me, because 
Jackson couldn’t get away from his house.” 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


133 


‘^But you got the glue, didn’t you? The bottle 
was one your brother brought from the pickle 
works.” 

Again Mike Nolan was astonished and aghast. 
Evidently the daylight had been shining in upon 
the dark doings of himself and his companions in 
crime. 

“I didn’t get the glue,” he whined. I got the 
bottle for J ackson, and he stole the glue from Pe- 
terson’s carpenter shop. Oh, please don’t have me 
arrested!” 

^‘What did you do it for? Why were you so 
anxious to get Bell here in trouble?” 

At first Mike Nolan would not answer these ques- 
tions, but finally he admitted that Franklin’s ways 
were not to the taste of himself and the others. 
He also said that his brother had been discharged 
from the pickle works, and that the others had 
promised to do what they could to get Larry No- 
lan the job should Frankhn be discharged. 

As soon as Nolan had finished, Felter and Bob 
Jackson were sent for and questioned. They were 
as much surprised as the Irish boy had been, and, 
covered with confusion, they made a sorry mess of 
the falsehoods they endeavored to tell in order to 
clear themselves. 

Belden Brice’s decision in the matter was short 
and to the point. He said he would not give Buck- 
man the trouble to prosecute them in the courts. 


134 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


although Franklin might do so if he chose, bul 
would discharge the three on the spot. And, re^ 
lieved to think that they would get off thus easily, 
Felter, Jackson and Nolan left without unnecessary 
delay. 

Of course, Franklin was sent back to work again, 
much to the surprise of the others in the shop. 
They wanted to know all about what had hap- 
pened, but the young electrician politely referred 
them to his enemies for information on that 
point. 

That evening Franklin called upon Harry Le- 
clair again. The sick boy was glad to hear of the 
turn affairs had taken. 

‘‘Maybe it will teach Mr. Buckman a lesson, 
too,’’ he said. “He is such a hot-tempered man. 
More than once he has scolded me when I didn’t 
deserve it.” 

“Mr. Brice will watch him, I imagine,” returned 
Franklin. “He sat down on him pretty heavily 
during the interview, I can tell you.” 

Franklin was right in his surmise that the specu- 
lator would keep his eyes on the superintendent. 
Commencing the next day, Belden Brice made it a 
point to call at the electrical works every morning, 
and this lasted for nearly two weeks. 

Then came a surprise. Thomas Buckman left 
one Friday, and on Saturday failed to put in an 
appearance. On the following Monday it was am 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


135 


nounced that thereafter a new man, named Mom- 
bray, would have full charge. 

The truth of the matter was that Belden Brice 
had found Thomas Buckman working solely in the 
interest of himself and one of the other stockholders. 
Buckman had been discharged and the stockhold- 
er had been forced to disposae of his stock to some- 
body else. 


136 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


CHAPTEK XYIII. 

FRANKLIN MAKES A NEW MOVE. 

It was soon evident that the new superintend- 
ent, Joseph Mombraj, was the right man in the 
right place. He was a constant and conscientious 
worker, and under his management the electrical 
fan works took on a new lease of life. In the course 
of a few weeks many of the old workmen — those 
who were of small account — were discharged, and 
their places were filled by a better class of men. 

This was especially apparent in the department 
in which Franklin was employed. The discharge 
of Felter, Nolan, and Jackson had been followed 
almost by a clean sweep, only Franklin, Harry 
Leclair, who, recovered sooner than expected, and 
two others remaining of the old force. The new 
boys were all manly fellows, and the young electri- 
cian soon made several fast friends among them. 

Early in March, Franklin’s uncle was able to get 
up from his sick bed, and this was cheering news 
from home. Mr. Bell, and Franklin’s aunt Martha, 
wished the boy to come home again, stating that 
they now thought they would be able to get along 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


137 


once more without the money he was in the habit 
of sending. But Franklin was fascinated too much 
with electricity to quit the shop, especially now, 
when he had a good chance of stepping higher, and 
he told them on his Sunday visit that he thought 
he would remain and work his way up. 

Well, just as you think best, Franklin,” said 
Mr. Bell. ‘‘ Yon have your own way to make, for 
I am in no position to help you just now, excepting 
it be to give you a home here with us.” 

While on this visit to his relatives’ home, Frank- 
lin learned that a detective had been put on the 
track of Andy Gresson, the fellow who had robbed 
Mrs. Mace of her diamond rings, but that so far 
the fellow had not been captured. He also learned, 
and this made him very indignant, that Mrs. Mace 
still suspected that he might be the guilty party, 
although she did not dare to say so for fear of 
offending her brother, Belden Brice. 

“She will not believe I am innocent until Andy 
Gresson is caught and made to confess,” thought 
Franklin, bitterly, when on his way back to Pater- 
son. “Even then she may think I was in league 
with him. It seems I can’t keep out of some sort 
of scrape, no matter how hard I try !” 

A few days later Franklin was surprised to re- 
ceive a note from Belden Brice, asking him to come 
up to the speculator’s residence that evening at 
eight o’clock. The note was delivered to Fr«‘^iLl^lin 


138 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


by private messenger, as the young electrician was 
quitting work, and an immediate answer was re- 
quested. Of course, Franklin said he would be on 
hand, and at the appointed hour presented him- 
self. 

The speculator had been called away suddenly 
just previous to his arrival, and, until became back, 
Franklin was entertained by little Cora, whom he 
had not seen for several weeks. The little girl was 
delighted to meet him, and did all in her power to 
make the time pass pleasantly. 

Papa says you are bound to be an electrician,’’ 
she said. “ Do you like electricity so very much?” 

‘‘Indeed I do,” returned Franklin, enthusiasti- 
cally. “There is nothing 1 take to so much. I 
only wish I could learn faster.” 

“It’s pretty hard to learn, isn’t it?” 

“Not so very hard, only there is so much of it, 
and new things are coming up every day.” 

“Well, I hope you soon learn everything. Then 
you can make a lot of money and be rich.” 

“Thank you for your good wishes,” said the 
young electrician, smiling at the little maiden’s 
frankness. 

When Belden Brice came in, he paused for a 
moment in the hallway, to listen to what the pair 
were saying. He was not displeased. 

“That boy is ambitious, and I don’t think I will 
lose anything by giving him a chance to advance 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


139 


himself,” he thought, and the next moment entered 
the parlor. 

Five minutes later, Franklin and the speculator, 
were seated in the latter’s library alone, little Cora 
having been surrendered to the charge of the house- 
keeper. Belden Brice had closed the door, and 
now he saw to it that the windows were also shut. 

“Franklin,” he began, “how would you like to 
go to Chicago for me?” 

“To Chicago!” ejaculated the young electrician 
in surprise. 

“Hush, not so loud! Yes, to Chicago.” 

“Well — I — I don’t know. This is a surprise.” 

“I presume it is. The truth of the matter is I 
did not know of the business on hand, until this 
morning, and I wish a representative of mine to be 
in Chicago, by next week Monday at the latest. I 
cannot go myself, and would really prefer to send 
some one in my place. I know I can trust you, and 
that you will carry out my orders to the letter.” 

“Thank you, Mr. Brice, for those words. But 
how about my position at the works here?” 

“ I will see Mr. Mombray about that, and make it 
all right. Then, you will go ?” 

“ If you think I can do the business for you, yes, 
sir. But I didn’t really expect to leave Paterson, 
for some time to come.” 

*‘l suppose not. This trip to Chicago must be 
made in secret. No one here must know, that you 
are going out there for me.” 


140 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


would like to tell my relatives that I am going 
west.” 

^‘You may do that, but caution them to say 
nothing of it. There are spies here in Paterson, 
who, if they heard I had sent you to Chicago, 
would at once telegraph to certain parties there, 
and ruin my prospects of accomplishing what I 
desire.” 

I will caution them, sir. But what is this work 
you wish me to do ?” 

‘‘I am the owner of a medical battery, known as 
the Bliss Thermo-Galvanic, of which I purchased 
the rights some five years ago, from an inventor in 
Chicago—a clever fellow, but dissipated — for three 
thousand dollars. The battery is now manufac- 
tured by the H. Y. Smith Co. of Chicago, under 
royalty. When old Smith himself was alive, the 
royalty was promptly paid, but since he died, and 
his sons took hold of the business, matters have 
taken a different course. I have it pretty straight 
that they put out more batteries, yet my income 
from the royalty is smaller.” 

‘‘You mean to say that they are cheating you 
out of part of the royalty?” questioned Franklin, 
with deep interest. 

“That’s the plain English of it, although I 
wouldn’t dare say so until I could prove it.” 

“And what do you wish me to do?” 

“I want you to go to Chicago, and watch 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN, 


141 


them. Note what shipment they make — how many 
cases they purchase to place the batteries in, and 
all that. I will give you full instructions before you 
start. You can either apply to them for a position 
in the shipping department, or watch them from 
the outside.” 

‘^And how long do you wish me to remain 
there?” 

Until I tell you to come away. You can send a 
report to me every day, or as often as you think 
necessary. You need not hurry yourself in the 
affair. Matters have gone wrong so long, that a 
month or so more won’t hurt much.” 

They talked the matter over for some time 
longer, and it was finally decided that Franklin 
should take the first train for Chicago, on the fol- 
lowing Monday morning. In the meantime he was 
to have the balance of the week, in which to pre- 
pare for the trip. 

Of course, Mr. Brice was to pay all the expenses 
of the trip. In addition to this, he promised Frank- 
lin a weekly salary of fifteen dollars, with a corres- 
ponding raise at the electrical fan works when he 
came back. 

‘^This is a strange kind of luck, thought the 
young electrician, as he left the speculator’s house 
just as the clock was striking ten. “Here I am to 
go to Chicago as a sort of spy, and I am to have a 
raise in salary, and all of my expenses paid.” 


142 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


Franklin hardly knew if he would like his forth- 
coming task or not. He would have preferred it, 
had he been sent to the city. by the lakes, to fill 
some regular position. But he was proud to think, 
Belden Brice trusted him, and had such confidence 
in his ability, and he resolved to do the best he 
could for his employer. 

On the following day Franklin left Paterson, and 
went to Orange, to remain there until the time 
should come for him to take his departure for the 
west. Mr. Brice had given him full instructions to 
what was to be done, and had placed an even hun- 
dred dollars in his hand, a sum which the young- 
electrician had divided into two parts, and placed 
away in the inner pockets of his clothing. 

Franklin’s brief stop at his uncle’s house was 
thoroughly enjoyed. He saw many of his old 
school chums. Will Charleigh and Charley Moore 
among the rest. They wanted to know of his 
plans, but he put them off, doing it so nicely, how- 
ever, that none of them were offended. 

On the Sunday evening before he was to leave the 
young electrician attended church, going where he 
had worshipped so often before. He heard a sermon 
which interested him deeply, it being upon the title. 
‘‘Be Honest, No Matter What the Cost,” and here- 
solved to profit thereby, come what might. 

It was a beautiful moonlight night, and after 
seeing his cousins home, Franklin resolved to take 
a little walk before retiring. 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


143 


may not get back to Orange for some time,” 
he thought. “ And I don’t want to forget how the 
old place looks. "'' 

He passed along block after block, until the busi- 
ness portion of the city was left behind, and the 
Orange mountains, bathed in the light of the sil- 
very moon, lay before him. Then he came to a 
pause and surveyed the scene. 

He stood there for several minutes, and then gave 
a sudden start. Not far down a little side street 
stood a lonely cottage, and he remembered it was 
the one in which Andy Gresson had lived, ere he 
had taken his hasty flight. 

“ I wonder if he ever came back to see his wife,” 
thought Franklin. “How awful it must be, to be 
compelled to remain away for fear of arrest ! Per- 
haps he has often wished that he had never taken 
those two rings.” 

There was a dim light burning in the kitchen of 
the cottage, and, led on by sheer curiosity, the 
young electrician moved towards the dilapidated 
building. 

He had hardly taken a dozen steps, when he saw 
a figure dart out from behind a tree on the other 
side of the road. Franklin stopped short, wonder- 
ing who it was. 

The figure approached the cottage, and then the 
young electrician heard a sharp rap on the door of 
the front room, where it was dark. A moment 
1 ater the door opened. 


144 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICTAN 


“ Andy !’’ cried a woman’s voice. 

^‘Husli, Mary! Are you alone?” came in return 
from Andy Gresson. 

‘‘Yes.” 

“Then let me in, and shut the door quick before 
any one sees me.” 

The woman stepped back, and on the instant the 
plunderer of Mrs. Mace’s jewel casket, darted into 
the cottage. Then the door was shut once more 
and bolted. 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN 


145 


CHAPTER XIX. 

THE MEETING IN THE COTTAGE. 

For the moment, after he had seen the strange 
and unexpected meeting between Andy Gresson 
and his wife, Franklin stood perfectly still in the 
darkness outside of the dilapidated cottage. 

‘‘Andy Gresson!” he murmured to himself. 
“And I fancied he was miles away! What can 
have brought him back to his home to-night?” 

No doubt there was an earnest talking going 
on within the walls of that humble home, but what 
was being said did not reach the young electrician’s 
ears. He watched the light in the kitchen and saw 
it turned down very low, but it was not quite ex- 
tinguished. 

“I must find out what he intends to do by all 
means,” thought Franklin. “If he leaves I must 
follow him, until I can summon a policeman and 
have him arrested.” It will be hard upon his wife, 
but that can’t be helped.” 

With cautious steps, and keeping out of the 
moonlight as much as possible, the young electri- 
cian approached the rear of the cottage. Here the 


146 BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 

curtain to the window beside the door, was only 
partly pulled down. The window was raised a few 
inches, and getting close to it, Franklin was 
able to see and hear all that took place. 

‘^And you say you have been in Philadelphia 
since you left home, Andy?” Mrs. Gresson was 
questioning. “Why didn’t you write to me?” 

“I was afraid the police would learn where I was. 
The postman might show him the letter with the 
postmark on it.” 

“But what of that, so long as you are not 
guilty,” cried Mrs. Gresson. “I think it a mis- 
take to run away.” 

“Well, I did,” returned Andy Gresson, surlily. 
“I wasn’t going to go to state’s prison for five or 
ten years.” 

“But how could they send you if you were not 
guilty, Andy? Could’t you prove your inno- 
cence?” 

“I guess not, Mary. Those lawyers have a way 
of fixing these things when they want to send a 
poor dog like me to jail. Besides that Bell boy is 
willing to swear he saw me at Mrs. Mace’s that 
morning, and so is the cook.” 

“ But you were not there, so you said before.” 

“ Of course I wasn’t there, Mary,” growled Andy 
Gresson. “How many more times have I got to 
tell you that? You act just a^ if you didn’t believe 
what I said.” 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


147 


To this the poor woman did not reply. But two 
tears coursed down her pale cheeks, which she 
hastily wiped away with the corner of her apron. 
Andy Gresson saw them and gave a sniff. 

‘‘What are you crying about now? Ain’t you 
glad to see me?” 

“Yes, Andy. But I would be better pleased if 
you would remain at home, and try to clear your 
name of this suspicion attached to it.” 

“Well, some day I will, but not now. Have you 
got anything good to eat in the house? I’m most 
starved to death.” 

“ There is some cold meat in the closet, and I can 
give you some bread and butter, and hot tea.” 

“Ain’t there anything to drink in the cellar? 
Seems to me I left some bottled beer there when I 
went away.” 

“No, you drank up all there was the morning 
you — you had the trouble and ran away.” 

“Well, then let me have the other, although I 
despise tea and always did. You ought to set a 
good table for your husband after he’s been away 
so long.” 

“I cannot afford a good table, Andy. You left 
me without a cent, and I do not get as much sew- 
ing as I used to.” 

“Why not?” 

“I do not know.” " 

“Folks down on you because they chased me 


148 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


away I suppose,” growled Silas Fells’ former work- 
man. “ Then I suppose you ain’t got much money 
on hand, either.” 

^^Not a great deal,” responded Mrs. Gresson, as 
she set the table and poured a cup of tea from the 
pot on the back of the stove. 

How much have you got?” 

‘T’ve only got ten dollars that I dare use,” re- 
turned the woman, after some hesitation. 

‘‘Dare u-^e? What do you mean? Have you 
got more?” 

“ I have that sixty dollars interest money on the 
mortgage. But I must pay that over to Mr. 
Brown next Wednesday.” 

“Humph! Why don’t you let old Brown wait? 
He’s rich enough.” 

“I would rather pay him, and then I will be sure 
of a roof over my head, at least for another year.” 

“Didn’t they try to take the house from you 
after I was gone?” 

“ They couldn’t do that, for the deed is in my 
name.” 

“Well, about this money. Where is it?” 

“In the trunk upstairs. But, Andy, I hope you 
—you—” 

“What,” he asked, sourly. 

“I hope you won’t touch it. It was very hard 
to save that amount out of my earnings.” 

“I need money,” returned Andy Gresson, reck- 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


149 


lessly. A fellow can’t travel around from place 
to place with nothing in his pocket.” 

“Why don’t you settle down somewhere and go 
to work?” 

“How can I when the detectives are on my track 
all the time ? I guess I’ve got to quit the country 
before I’ll be safe,” he went on, as he attacked the 
articles of food on the table vigorously. 

“I would give it all if 3^ou would only remain 
here and clear your name.” 

“Bah, Mary! I know my own business best. 
They are not going to jug Andy Gresson, not if he 
knows it. There is one thing I would like to do 
though.” 

“And what is that, Andy?” 

“Choke the wind out of that young Bell! He 
came near having me arrested up at the Erie depot, 
in Newark, a few months ago.” 

“I always thought the Bells, nice folks,” sighed 
Mrs. Gresson. 

“The boy is no good,” was Andy Gresson’s com- 
ment, after several minutes of silence, during 
which he finished his brief meal. “There! now I 
feel better,” he went on as he jumped up. 

“What do you intend to do next?” asked his 
wife, in some anxiety. 

“I came home to get a bit of money, and say 
good-bye, Mary. Let me have what you can 
spare.” 


150 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


‘‘You may take the ten dollars/’ she returned, 
with a deep sigh. “ I will try to get along without 
it.” 

“That’s not enough. You keep the ten, and I’ll 
take that sixty dollars in the trunk.” 

“Oh, Andy!” 

“There! there! don’t make any fuss about it! 
As soon as I’m settled down somewhere. I’ll send 
it back, and more, too. In the meantime old 
Brown can wait.” 

“ But he may not be willing to wait.” 

“He’ll have to. Show me where the money is.” 

“No, no, Andy. Please do not — ” 

“Shut up, Mary, and give me the money!” he 
burst out brutally. “I have been here too long 
already. For all I know, the police are on my 
track even now.” 

The poor woman attempted to argue with her 
husband, but all to no purpose. Andy Gresson 
was determined to have the money that was up 
stairs, and at last caught her forcibly by the wrist. 

“Now come with me, and give me that money, 
Mary !” he cried, in a low but intense tone. 

“Let me go, Andy!” she cried in sudden terror. 
Her husband had never been quite so harsh before. 

“I will — after I have the money. Haven’t I a 
right to it if I want it? I’m your husband.” 

“Yes, but, Andy, what will I do? Mr. Brown 
may foreclose and put me out of the house.” 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTBICIAN. 


151 


“He won’t if yon talk to him right. Anyway, 
I’m going to have that money, and if you want to 
steer clear of trouble with me, you won’t oppose me 
any longer.” 

Trembling from head to foot, the poor woman 
tried to reply. But the words would not come, 
and silently she opened the door which led to the 
inclosed staircase and began to mount the steps. 
Catching up the lamp from the table, Andy Gres- 
son followed her. 


POUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


152 


CHAPTER XX. 

ANDY GRESSON IS ASTONISHED. 

In the meanwhile Franklin had not been idle. 
He had waited only until Andy Gresson had sat 
down to the table to devour a late supper. Then, 
certain that the thief would remain at the cottage 
for at least a quarter of an hour, he sped off with 
all haste for the local police station. 

It was not necessary, however, for the young 
electrician to make the entire trip. He had gone 
less than half the distance when he almost ran into 
a policeman, who stared at him and was almost 
on the point of grabbing him by the arm. 

‘‘What are you running for, young fellow?’’ de- 
manded the officer as he followed Franklin up sev- 
eral steps. 

“Oh, officer, you are just the man I want,” re- 
turned Franklin, joyfully. “I was on my way to 
the station house to obtain assistance.” 

“What’s the trouble— murder?” questioned the 
officer quickly. 

“Not as bad as that, sir. I want you to come 
and arrest a thief.” 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


153 


‘‘A thief?” Who? Where?” 

“It is Andy Gresson, the man who robbed Mrs. 
Mace of her diamond rings last January.” 

“ Oh, I remember him ! And where is he?” 

“At his home on Valley Place. Come, I will 
show you the way.” 

“All right, I’m with you, young man. There is 
no mistake?” 

“No, sir.” 

“Who are you?” 

“Franklin Bell.” 

“You are the boy, then, that was mixed up in 
the case?” 

“Yes, unfortunately. But come on, there is no 
time to waste. He may leave the cottage at any 
minute.” 

Franklin began to run, and the policeman, who 
was young, and had good wind, followed close 
upon his heels. 

It was now getting late, and the streets were 
almost deserted. The moon had gone under a 
cloud, making it quite dark, and no one observed 
their movements. 

Valley Place was soon reached, and Franklin 
pointed out the Gresson cottage. 

“The light was in the kitchen before, but I see it 
is now up stairs,” he said. 

“Maybe Gresson is going to stay at home all 
night,” returned the policeman, as they made their 
way around to the kitchen door. 


154 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


“It is not likely. He is too afraid of arrest,” 
said the young electrician. 

“While the policeman tried the door to see if it 
was unlocked, Franklin once more peered into the 
window. As he did so, Andy Gresson came down 
stairs, lamp in hand, with his wife behind him. 

“Oh, Andy, I beg of you not to take that money!” 
cried Mrs. Gresson, tearfully. “I know you will 
only drink it up!” 

“Didn’t I tell you to shut up, Mary?” snarled 
the man, turning upon her fiercely. “ T know what 
is best, and I don’t drink any more than is good 
for me.” 

As he spoke, he set the lamp down the table, and 
then drew from his pocket a large and well-worn 
wallet. 

“Here, I won’t take your pocketbook,” he said, 
as he opened the wallet and extracted a roll of bills 
from it. “ Sixty dollars, sure enough,” he went on, 
as he counted out the bills on the table. 

He had hardly uttered the words Avhen Mrs. Gres- 
son gave a shriek of alarm. The policeman had 
opened the door and entered the kitchen, followed 
by Franklin. 

Andy Gresson turned at his wife’s cry, and then 
stared at the new-comers in mute astonishment. 
His surprise was complete, and for the moment he 
could not move hand or foot. 

“You are Andy Gresson, I believe,” said the po- 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


155 


liceman as he strode up to Silas Fell’s former work- 
man and caught him by the arm. 

‘^Who — what — ’’stammered AndyGresson. Then 
he caught sight of Franklin. What, you!” 

“Yes, Gresson,” returned the young electrician. 
“I presume you were not thinking of meeting the 
officer and myself to-night.” 

“The dickens take the luck!” growled Andy Gres- 
son. “ How did you know I was here?” 

“I followed you from the street,” returned the 
young electrician. 

“I reckon you know what you are wanted for, 
Andrew Gresson,” put in the officer, with a strong 
show of authority, for he had not been on the 
force long, and this was by far his most important 
arrest. “You stole Mrs. Mace’s diamond rings.” 

“It ain’t so!” cried Gresson, recklessly. “That 
boy took them. I am an honest man.” 

“ Nevertheless you will have to come to the sta- 
tion house with me.” 

“I won’t go.” 

“Oh, yes, you will;” and without further words 
the officer brought forth a pair of handcuffs, one 
of which he fastened to his own wrist, and the other 
to that of his prisoner. 

Andy Gresson wished to argue the case, and then 
he wanted to fight. But at the sight of the officer’s 
club, and a stout stick Franklin had picked up, he 
changed his mind, and finally consented to go to 
the station house. 


156 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN, 


“Mary, give me that money!” he cried to his 
wife, who had picked up the bills on the table and 
placed them in her pocket. “ I may want money 
for a lawyer.” 

“I will call on you, and see in the morning,” re- 
turned Mrs. Gresson, prudently. “I guess I had 
better keep the money for the present.” 

“If it is your money you had better not let him 
have a cent of it,” put in Franklin, warmly. “He 
is not worthy of it.” 

At these words, Andy Gresson began to scold the 
young electrician roundly. But Franklin paid no 
attention, and Mrs. Gresson kept her money, and 
a few minutes later the start was made for the sta- 
tion house. 

Here Silas Fells ’s former workman was subjected 
to a thorough search, and in one of the pockets of 
his ragged vest, were found two pawn tickets from 
a pawnbroking establishment in Philadelphia. It 
was supposed that the tickets represented the rings 
Gresson had stolen, and a future investigation 
proved such to be the case. The rings had been 
pawned for twenty dollars each, and to avoid any 
trouble in the matter, for the pawnbroker did not 
seem to be willing to give up the rings without 
litigation, Mrs. Mace paid the amount advanced, 
and got them back. 

After the examination, Andy Gresson was locked 
up to await the action of the Grand Jury. There 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


157 


was no use in setting a bail limit, for the man 
could think of no one who would go as his bonds- 
man. It might as well be stated here, that he was 
later on tried and sentenced to one year in prison. 

When Franklin returned to his uncle’s house, he 
found all of his relatives much worried over his 
absence. They listened with deep interest to his 
story of Andy Gresson’s capture. 

‘‘That will clear you at last!” cried Daisy. 
“And I’m so glad I” 

“So am I glad,” returned Franklin, with a smile. 
“But I am sorry for Mrs. Gresson,” he went on, 
soberly. “ She seems such a nice woman. What a 
shame she has such a husband I” 

“I will see if we cannot do something for her,” 
put in Mrs. Bell. “Now we are getting out of cur 
own trouble, it is no more than right that we try 
to help other folks. I think I can get her some 
sewing to do.” 

“I know I can,” added Clara, the oldest of the 
girls. “ Mrs. Hill was asking me only last Friday, 
if I didn’t know of some one who could make up a 
lot of slip covers for her parlor furniture, and do 
some other sewing.” 

“I am glad you are going to help her,” said 
Franklin, and before he parted with his aunt that 
night he gave her afive-dollar bill out of his scanty 
store, to be used for Mrs. Gresson’s benefit. 

The young electrician was up bright and early 


158 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


on the following morning. His trunk had already 
been sent to the depot, and he carried a small 
satchel in his hand. All of the girls went to the* 
station to see him off. 

^^Be sure and come back safe!” was Daisy’s last 
cry, as he boarded the train. 

“Let us hear from you often I” called out Annie, 
as she waved her handkerchief. 

“Bye-bye, F’anky I” came in baby Bess’s piping 
voice, and then, with a farew^ell to all, Franklin 
entered the car, and the train rolled on its journey. 

“It’s a big undertaking for a boy.” he said to 
himself, as he selected a seat and dropped into it, 
with his satchel by his side. “ I hope I succeed, for 
I would not like to disappoint Mr. Brice, especially 
after all he has done for me.” 

Franklin was a courageous boy, and one well 
calculated to succeed in any ordinary undertaking. 
But little did he dream of what lay before him — of 
the difficulties and the dangers. Had he known of 
them, his heart might have faltered, and perhaps 
he might even have turned back. He was going 
among utter strangers, and fie was destined to 
meet many more enemies than friends. 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


159 


CHAPTER XXI. 

FRANKLIN BELLAS MISSION. 

Chicago! All out!'' 

With a rumble and a roar, the long train from 
New York ran into the large depot, and came slow- 
ly to a stop. Already, the numerous passengers 
were on their feet, and now they crowded to the 
platforms. 

Among the number was Franklin Bell. The bus- 
tle and confusion about the place, at once remind- 
ed him of New York City. There were the cab 
drivers and the baggage men, all on the lookout 
for business, and out on the street were the news- 
boys and gutter merchants, crying their wares, and 
doing what they could to make sales. 

Franklin had been advised by Belden Brice, to 
secure board at some private house, and now he 
started out with his satchel in his hand, leaving 
his trunk on check at the depot. 

‘‘Paper, sir?" cried a newsboy. “News, Herald, 
Times, Inter-Ocean!" 

“I'll take a paper," returned Franklin. 

He at once turned to the advertisments he wished 


160 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN, 


to see. There were a goodly number of them, and 
after looking them over carefully, he selected half 
a dozen to try. 

After this he inquired his way to the nearest of 
the places. It was quite a walk, and when he ar- 
rived at, the house, its look from the exterior, was 
such that the young electrician did not care to 
venture inside. 

The second call was not better, and by this time 
it was past the noon hour. Feeling hungry, 
Franklin resolved to get a lunch before proceeding 
with his search. A tidy looking restaurant was 
close at hand, and this he entered and took a seat 
at one of the numerous tables. 

At a table close by, sat two young men convers- 
ing earnestly. They paid no attention to Frank- 
lin, and he could not help but hear what they had 
to say while he was eating. 

‘‘Yes, Jack, I am sorry to see you go back to 
Denver,’’ said one of the two young men. “I 
thought you were going to remain in Chicago all 
summer. Mrs. Gould will be sorry to lose you.” 

“So she said.” 

“ She has already lost two of her other boardei^s.” 

“ Perhaps she will be able to get somebody in my 
place. She’ll have to advertise.” 

Franklin had been an interested listener to the 
foregoing conversation, and now when the two 
young men arose he also left his chair, and tapped 
one of them on the shoulder. 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


161 


‘‘Excuse me,” he said, “but I could not help but 
hear what you just said about one of you leaving 
his boarding house. I just came to Chicago, and 
have been hunting for a place.” 

The two young men looked at Franklin earnestly 
for a moment, and then the one called Walter 
replied : 

“My friend here, Jack Fanwood, is going to 
leave to-night, and you may be able to get his 
room.” 

“So I thought. Would you mind telling me 
something of the place?” 

“It is a very good boarding house. I have 
boarded there over two years, and I would not 
wish for anything better. Of course we put on no 
style, but everything is clean and comfortable, and 
Mrs. Gould sets an excellent table.” 

“That would just suit me. How much does she 
charge?” 

“That would be according to the room. From 
six to ten dollars, I presume, and that includes 
washing and mending, for Mrs. Gould tries to 
make her place a regular home for her boarders.” 

“I would like that. If you will give me her ad- 
dress, I will call upon her at once, and see if I can 
make arrangements with her.” 

“I am going back to the house now,” said Jack- 
Fanwood. “You see, my friend here, Walter Kob- 
inson, and myself do not take our noonday meal 


162 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN 


at the house, that is the reason we are not there 
now. May I ask your name?’’ 

Franklin told him, and after settling* up, the 
young* electrician and his new acquaintance, left the 
restaurant, and proceeded to Mrs. Gould’s boarding 
house, which was six blocks distant. 

Franklin found the house all that he wished, and 
Mrs. Gould a motherly old lady, no one could help 
loving. She w^as delighted to think Jack Fan wood 
had brought her a possible boarder to take his 
place, and a bargain for a large hall bedroom, at 
eight dollars per week was made on the spot. 
Franklin was to have breakfast and dinner at the 
house, and Mrs. Gould was to pack him up a lunch 
for noon time, as soon as he procured a situation 
where he could not come home at that hour. 

As soon as this arrangement w*as completed, 
Franklin took a cable car down to the depot, and 
had his trunk sent up to the house. 

Now I’ll take a w^alk around to the works of 
the H. Y. Smith Co. and see how the situation 
looks,” he said to himself, as he consulted his 
watch and found that it still lacked ten minutes of 
four o’clock. “There is nothing like getting to 
work without delay when something is to be 
done.” 

Belden Brice had given him the address of the 
works. It was on the opposite side of the Chicago 
river, and to get to it. Franklin had to cross one of 
the numerous street bridges. 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


163 


At length, Franklin arrived at a large yard sur- 
rounded by a high stone wall. In the rear of the 
yard Avas a two-story factory, all of a hundred feet 
long. There was a constant hammering, and a dull 
hum from within. 

This is the place,” he said to himself, as he read 
the big sign suspended in a semi-circle over the 
gateway leading into the yard. ^‘Evidently they 
are busy, by the way things sound. I wonder if 
they would say anything if I walked into the yard, 
and took a look around?” 

He hesitated for a moment, and then, seeing no 
one in sight, entered the yard and made his way 
slowly toward the factory. 

The offices were at one end, and not wishing to 
call there just yet, the young electrician turned to- 
wards the opposite end. Here the shipping depart- 
ment was situated, and at a platform several feet 
high, backed by big sliding doors, two large two- 
horse trucks were being loaded with small boxes, 
which Franklin knew must each contain one of the 
batteries upon which Belden Brice Avas supposed to 
receive a royalty. 

The men who AA^ere loading the trucks, several in 
number, paid no attention to Franklin, and the 
young electrician gradually drew nearer, to learn 
if possible, where the batteries Av^ere to be sent. 

He knew that the boxes ought to be marked in 
some way, but soon learned that every one of them 
was free of any directions Avhatever. 


164 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


“They can’t be shipping them anywhere,” he 
said to himself. “Perhaps they are only transfer- 
ring them to some storehouse attached to the fac- 
tory.” 

The shippers were very slow in their work, and it 
was nearly five o’clock before the two trucks were 
loaded and ready to be sent off. 

“I have half a mind to follow those trucks and 
learn where the batteries are taken,” Franklin 
went on to himself, as the drivers, after consulting 
the head shipping clerk, mounted to their seats and 
took up the reins. “ Mr. Brice wanted me to learn 
all I could, and I can’t think of anything else to do 
to-day. It’s almost quitting time.” 

With a snap of his whip, one of the truck drivers 
began to start up his horses. The load was a 
heavy one, and the shoes of the animals slipped 
time and again on the smooth stones, with which 
the factory yard was paved. 

“ Git up there, consarn you !” cried the truckman, 
savagely. “Git up, I say, or I’ll take the hide 
clean off of you!” 

And standing on his seat, he brought down the 
whip with all force on the back of first one horse 
and then the other. 

The horses tried their best, but could not budge 
the truck, and seeing this, the truckman grew more 
savage than ever, and lashed the poor brutes right 
and left with his heavy whip. 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


165 


“We’ll see if you won’t go!” lie raved. “Take 
that! and that! and that! No bit of boss flesh 
ever got the best of Hank Bitters !” 

“Say, Hank, don’t kill the critters,” called out 
the second truckman, with some show of humanity. 
“They mean well enough, but the load is a leetle 
too heavy for them.” 

“Oh, give us a rest,” returned the first truck- 
man, surlily. “ I know how to manage them every 
time.” 

“If you get down in front of them, they may go 
better.” 

“No, they won’t. They’re a couple of lazy 
brutes, and I’m going to teach ’em a lesson they 
won’t forget in a hurry !” 

“What are you going to do?” asked the ship- 
ping clerk, as he came out on the' platform to see 
what was the trouble. 

“I’ll show you, ’’howled the infuriated truckman, 
as he threw down the whip and the reins, and 
clambered once more to the ground. 

It was evident that he had been drinking heavi- 
ly, for no sooner had he reached the ground than 
he began to stagger painfully from side to side. 

But he managed to keep his feet, and a moment 
later, jumped up on the platform and disappeared 
into the shipping room. 

“What’s he gone for now?” asked the other 
truckman, curiously. 


166 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


“Hang me if I know,” muttered the shipping 
clerk. “ Hank’s got ^em on to-day.” 

He had hardly spoken, before the half drunken 
truckman emerged upon the platform once more. In 
his right hand he held a large stamping iron which 
was heated red hot. 

He sprang down and rushed towards the horses 
with his cruel instrument of torture, but before he 
could reach them, Franklin stopped him and hurled 
him to the ground. 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAISi . 


167 


CHAPTEK XXII. 

FRANKLIN SHOWS HIS COURAGE. 

All those who witnessed the young electrician’s 
unexpected assault upon the enraged truckman, 
were for the moment. so astonished that they 
neither moved nor spoke. 

The truckman, dazed by the push Franklin 
had given him, and befuddled by the liquor he had 
drunk, rolled over on his back, while the red hot 
stamping iron left his hand, and spun away a dis- 
tance of several yards. 

Hullo, who are you?” cried the second truck- 
man, who was the first to recover from his aston- 
ishment. 

Before Franklin could reply to this question, the 
man who had been struck, sat up and glared at 
Franklin, his blood-shot eyes full of rage and 
hatred. 

‘‘Wot you mean by knocking me down?” he 
cried. 

“ You shall not touch those horses with that red- 
hot iron,” exclaimed Franklin, his breast heaving 


168 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


with indignation. “You are a brute! -the poor 
animals did the best they could. You have too 
much of a load on the truck.” 

“So that’s the reason you knocked me down, 
hey?” stormed the fallen one, as he attempted to 
rise to his feet, something which was not an easy 
thing for him to do. “Who set you to giving me 
orders I would like to know.” 

“No one, but I am not going to see that team 
abused. If you misuse them again I’ll have you 
arrested.” 

“I reckon Hank Bitters will do as he pleases!” 
howled the truckman, as he at last managed to 
stand upright. “You had no right to attack me, 
and I’m going to get square for it.” 

He ran up to Franklin, and made a savage lunge 
at the young electrician with his big fist. But 
Franklin was on his guard, and easily avoided the 
blow, and the truckman brought up against the 
edge of the platform with a crash. 

By this time the word had been spread that a 
row was in progress, and fully a dozen of the em- 
ployees of the factory gathered around the open 
doors, to see how the affair would terminate. 

His failure to hit Franklin only enraged the half 
drunken driver more, and as soon as he could re- 
cover, he again rushed forward, and this time 
caught Franklin by the coat sleeve. 

“Now I’ll fix you!” he fumed. “I reckon I’ll use 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN, 


169 


my horses the way I please, and you nor nobody 
else will interfere with me!” 

Still retaining his hold, the truckman endeavored 
to strike Franklin with his disengaged hand. But 
the young electrician, who fully understood the 
sort of a man with whom he had to deal, was on 
his guard. He warded off the blow by putting- 
up his free arm, and then pushed the fellow away 
from him with a force that once more sent Hank 
Bitters on his back. 

In going down this time, the truckman’s left 
hand struck upon the hot end of stamping iron. 
He gave a fearful yell of fright and pain. 

‘‘Ouch, my hand! My hand is burnt off! Oh, 
but I’ll fix you for this!” And snatching up the 
handle of the iron with his other hand, he scrams 
bled to his feet and made at Franklin, intending to 
use the branding instrument upon the young elec- 
trician’s face. 

Seeing the new danger which confronted him, 
Franklin thought it best to get out of harm’s way. 
With a quick bound, he landed on the platform, 
and plunged almost into the arms of a very loudly 
dressed young man who had just arrived on the 
scene from the office at the opposite end of the 
building. 

“Here, what does this mean?” demanded the 
loudly dressed young man, and by the way those 
around got out of his way, Franklin knew he must 


170 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN, 


be either the superintendent, or one of the owners 
of the works. 

“I’m going to fix him!” roared the truckman, 
who was struggling to climb on top the platform, 
and did not notice whom he was addressing. “I’ll 
show him that I’ll do as I please about the 
place!” 

“ He wants to burn me with that red hot stamp- 
ing iron,” returned Franklin, as he pointed to the 
instrument the truckman held. “He is angry at 
me because I would not let him use the iron on his 
team.” 

“Is that so. Bitters?” questioned the man be- 
side Franklin. “Did you try to burn the horses 
with that thing?” 

By this time the truckman had gained the top of 
the platform, and he now became aware of whom 
he was addressing. A change at once came over 
his face, and he attempted to conceal the stamping 
iron behind him. 

“Excuse me, Mr. Smith,” he said, cringingly, “I 
was after that boy, who tried to interfere with me 
just now.” 

“You have been drinking again. Bitters,” re- 
turned Montague Smith, one of the two brothers, 
who owned the works. 

“Only one glass, sir, for my cold.” 

“'Let me see what you have behind you.” 

Very hesitatingly. Hank Bitters produced the 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN, 


171 


stamping iron. Montague Smith assured himself 
that it was really hot. 

“So you were going to brand the team, eh?’' 
questioned the part owner of the battery works, 
harshly. 

“No, sir, I was only going to— to stamp a box, 
sir,’’ stammered the truckman. 

“What box?’' 

“ One of the — er — the one on the truck, sir.” 

“ Most likely,” sneered Montague Smith. “ Don’t 
you know that that team cost six hundred 
dollars?” He turned to Franklin. “ So you stopped 
him, did you?” 

“Yes, sir. But before he got the iron he used 
the whip most shamefully. That was what made 
me angry. I can’t bear to see ahorse mistreated.” 

“ It ain’t so !” howled the truckman. 1 knowmy 
business ! I only tapped ’em a little — ” 

“No more. Bitters. You are drunk, and I know 
just how you act when you are that way,” said 
Montague Smith, cutting the man short. “I told 
you before I wouldn’t have the horses abused. I’ll 
take a look at them.” 

The part owner of the works, sprang to the 
ground and began to inspect the animals. He was 
a sporty young man and knew more about horse- 
flesh than he did about his regular business. He 
readily noted how the whip had been applied, and 
his face took on a hard and ugly look. 


172 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRiUTAN. 


‘‘You can’t work for us anymore, Bitters,” he 
said, shortly. ‘ ‘ Horse-flesh costs too much money. 
I’m no soft-hearted fool, but at the same time I 
won’t allow any driver to injure ou^ animals— it’s 
not profitable. You can let the truck stand where 
it is, and get the pay due you.” 

At this the truckman began to n iitter under his 
breath, and then he shook his fist Franklin. 

“I’ll fix you for this; mark my words if I don’t,” 
he said. 

Then he attempted to argue with his employer, 
but it was all to no purpose. Montague Smith 
spoke to the others present about the affair, and 
learned from them, that what Franklin had said 
was strictly true. The truckman was discharged, 
and went off to And consolation at some neighbor- 
ing saloon. 

“You ought to have notified me of this before, 
Macklin,” said Montague Smith, to the other 
truck driver. “I told you to keep an eye on 
Bitters.” 

“He said he was going to reform,” pleaded 
Macklin. “And I didn’t want him to lose his job, 
seeing that he’s got a sick wife on his hands.” 

“I don’t care if he’s got a wife and sixteen 
children,” returned Montague Smith, heartlessly. 

“He can go to the dogs for all I care. But he 
can’t injure our horses— it’s too expensive. He 
ruined old Joe, and we had to sell him for less than 
a hundred.” 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN, 


173 


Shall I drive on alone?’’ asked the truckman, 
meekly changing the subject. 

I suppose you’ll have to,” responded Montague 
Smith, irritatedly. “There is no one else around 
to drive, is there?” 

“Not as I know of, sir.” 

“That’s always the way, and I wanted those 
batteries taken away before to-morrow morning, 
too.” 

Montague Smith had seemingly forgotten all 
about Franklin, but now as the young electrician 
touched him on the arm, he wheeled about quickly. 

“ Oh, I forgot to thank you for saving our horses 
from being abused,” he said, in an off-hand way 
“ It was very clever. How did you happen to be 
around?” 

“ I drifted into the yard to see what Avas going 
on,” returned Franklin. “I have been Avorking at 
the electrical trade, and am interested in manufac- 
turing batteries.” 

“Well?” 

“I thought you might have some job open for 
me.” 

“ We are full— in fact, more than full, sorry to say. 
Trade is dull.” 

“ I just heard you speak about a driver for that 
truck,” Franklin Avent on. “ I can drive quite well, 
sir.” 

“ Can you? What is your name?” 


174 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


‘^Franklin Bell. I would like to drive the truck 
until you can give me a place in the works.” 

‘‘Well, since you did us a good turn, you can try 
the job,” returned Montague Smith, shortly. 
“ Macklin will give you instructions. Do you hear, 
Macklin?” 

“Yes, sir,” returned the truckman. 

“You can follow Macklin now, and to-morrow 
morning come in the office and I’ll have a talk with 
you. There is no time to waste at present. If the 
load is too heavy, take the top row of boxes off. 
Macklin, help him get the load into shape.” 

And without another word Montague Smith 
walked back to the office, leaving Franklin to pro- 
ceed with his new work as best he could. 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


175 


CHAPTEE XXIII. 

FRANKLIN MAKES A NEW FRIEND. 

The whistle was now blowing for those in the fac- 
tory to quit work, and, anxious to get away, the 
packers and stock clerks disappeared from the plat- 
form, leaving the young electrician and Macklin, 
the truckman, alone. 

Franklin found Macklin quite a good fellow with 
whom to get along. The truckman showed him 
where to place the boxes that were taken from the 
overloaded truck. The task of lightening was soon 
accomplished, and then Macklin drove out of the 
yard on his truck, with the young electrician fol- 
lowing on the turnout, which the shiftless Hank 
Bitters had heretofore driven. 

‘^Affairs have shaped themselves rather quickly,’’ 
thought Franklin, as they moved along. “Here I 
have not yet been a whole day in Chicago, and have 
secured a situation with the very firm I was sent on 
to watch. I trust my good luck continues.” 

They drove down one street, and up another, 
and inside of half an hour arrived at a dock, situa- 
ted on the river, not far from the lake. 


176 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


Here a small freight boat was lying, and Macklin 
said the boxes were to be transferred to the deck of 
this craft. 

“And wedl have to hurry,” he added. “For the 
boat sails at six o’clock.” 

“ Where is the boat bound?” asked Franklin, with 
considerable curiosity. 

“Up the shore to Milwaukee.” 

“And do the boxes go there?” 

“I believe so. The captain of the freight boat has 
full charge of them, after they are delivered on 
board. He has a private arrangement vith the 
firm.” 

“I see. Will we have to bring many truck loads 
down here?” 

“Two truck loads a week regularly, that’s all. 
The other boxes go to the freight depots, and to the 
regular warehouse.” 

The trucks were backed up on the dock, and the 
work of unloading at once began. Franklin took 
care to count all the boxes taken on board, and 
found that they numbered one hundred and forty. 
Not one of them was marked in any way, but by 
knocking loose the ends of several covers he saw 
that they contained batteries. 

“ Most likely these are the batteries upon which 
Mr. Brice fails to get his royalty,” thought Frank- 
lin. “I would like very much to learn just where 
they are taken.” 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


177 


The young electriciau, by keeping his ears open, 
heard the captain addressed as Cosgrove, and he 
also heard this individual remark that the last car- 
go had gone through all right. 

“I would like to know what he means by going 
through all right,” thought Franklin. Does he 
mean that it was secreted somewhere, without any 
one being the wiser?” 

As soon as the unloading was completed, Mack- 
lin led the way to the stables, and here he and 
Franklin took care of the teams. This was new 
work for the young electrician, but luckily he knew 
how to do it, and got through very well. 

After leaving Macklin, Franklin brushed off his 
clothing as best he could, and then boarded a car 
for Mrs. Gould’s boarding house. He was tired af- 
ter his journey and his unexpected work, and 
thought himself entitled to the ride. 

wouldn’t care to be a truck driver all my life,” 
he thought, while getting ready to go down to din- 
ner. “ It’s too hard, and too rough work. It needs 
a fellow with more weight than I’ve got.” 

At the table, Franklin became fairly well acquaint- 
ed with Walter Kobinson, the young man he had 
met in the restaurant. The young electrician found 
Kobinson bright and talkative, and after the meal 
was over, gladly accepted an invitation to spend 
the evening in the latter’s room. 

During the course of this time, Franklin told how 


178 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


he had struck a situation with the H. Y. Smith Co., 
and expected to remain there for some time. Of his 
private business, he said nothing, not that he fan- 
cied Walter Robinson would fail to keep his secret, 
but because such had been Belden Brice’s orders, 
which the young electrician intended to carry out 
without deviation. 

“I know something of that company,” said 
Walter Robinson. “They manufacture their bat- 
teries under a patent which Avas granted to a dis- 
tant relative of mine, Wilbur Bliss.” 

“Is that so?” exclaimed Franklin, for he remem- 
bered that this was the very patent in which Belden 
Brice was interested. 

“Yes. Poor Wilbur went crazy sometime after 
the patent was granted. He sold it for a nice sum 
of money, and that got him in the idea that he 
could make any number of inventions and patent 
them. He spent all of his money in experimenting, 
and finally became a regular beggar and disap- 
peared, no one knew where.” 

“ They never found out whab became of him?” 

“No. Some said he went east, while others 
think he traveled west. I, being only a distant 
relative Avas not much interested. There Avas an- 
other feature about it, though, Avhich made the 
case Avorse than ordinary.” 

“And what Avas that?” 

“Wilbur Avas h AvidoAA^er and had one child, a 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


179 


little girl. When he drifted down in the world, he 
always kept this child with him, and when he dis- 
appeared, she disappeared also.” 

Franklin was now more interested than ever. 
He could not help but think of what Belden Brice 
had said concerning the inventor, and he also re- 
membered that the speculator’s little girl was not 
his own. 

“ That was too bad,” remarked Franklin, trying 
hard to appear not too much concerned. ‘‘What 
was the little girl’s name ? ” 

“He called her Cora, I believe. But she was 
nothing but a baby when he left Chicago.” 

Franklin drew a long breath. Was it possible 
then that little Cora, the sweet little girl that lived 
with Belden Brice, was really the daughter of the 
inventor who had disappeared? It certainly 
looked so. 

“Had Mr. Wilbur Bliss any close relations?” he 
asked, after a pause, during which Walter Eobin- 
son brought out a checkerboard and some checkers 
he had mentioned at the dinner table. 

“ He had a sister, an old maid, who lived in Mil- 
waukee. I heard she was much affected by his 
disappearance, and tried hard to find him.” 

At this moment the conversation was interrupted 
by another boarder, a naval cadet, who came in to 
play dominoes, and Franklin made no attempt to 
bring it back to the subject. The three played 


180 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


three games of dominoes, Franklin winning one, 
and then it was time to retire. 

Before he went to bed, however, Franklin wrote 
a letter to Belden Brice, in which he told how he 
had secured work with the H. Y. Smith Co., and 
mentioned the boxes which had been taken to the 
freight boat. He did not mention having met a 
relative of Wilbur Bliss. 

Franklin was on hand bright and early on the 
following morning, and presented himself at the 
office of the Thermo-Galvanic Battery Co. long 
before either of the partners put in an appearance. 
The only one in charge was a sleepy-looking clerk, 
who ordered him to sit dovm and wait. 

Franklin did as requested, and almost an hour 
later Montague Smith put in his appearance. He 
was more loudly-dressed thanever, and in his crav- 
at sparkled an immense diamond. 

Oh, yes, I told you to come around to the oflftce 
this morning, I believe,” he said, carelessly. 
‘‘How did you make out on the truck yesterday?” 

“All right, sir,” returned the young electrician, 
and he related a few particulars. 

“Well, you may keep on the truck for the bal- 
ance of the week, and then we will see what turns 
up,” said Montague Smith, as he sat down in an 
easy chair and took up a morning paper, and con- 
sidering that he was dismissed, Franklin thanked 
him and left the office. 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


181 


Wishing to show that he meant to do his duty, 
the young electrician hurried off to the stable to 
get his turnout. 

On the way he saw a truck coming down the 
street. On the seat sat Macklin. 

“I was waiting for you,” remarked the truck- 
man, as he drove up. What kept you so long?” 

“I had to report at the office first,” returned 
Franklin. “I am after the truck now. Can I get 
it?” 

“Here is the key to the stable. After this who- 
ever leaves the stable last locks up, and puts the 
key on a nail in the feed store next door. The feed 
man will tell you the place.” 

“Thank you. I’ll remember that,” returned 
Franklin. 

He took the key, and continued on his way. 
Five minutes more brought him to the stable. 
Unlocking the door, he hurried inside, and was 
soon busy harnessing the horses, which Macklin 
had fed. 

While the young electrician was at work, he 
heard a footstep outside, and a moment later, the 
figure of a burly man darkened the doorway. He 
looked up and saw that his visitor was Hank 
Bitters. 

On the moment Franklin realized that there was 
trouble ahead. The discharged truckman had 
threatened to get square with him, and he would 
most likely try to keep his word. 


182 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


As Hank Bitters, therefore, stepped into the 
stable, Franklin retreated a few steps. Near at 
hand lay a heavy whip, and this he took up and 
prepared to defend himself. 

“So we meet again, hey?’’ said Hank Bitters, 
harshly, by way of an opening. 

“What do jou want here?” demanded Franklin, 
coming at once to the point. He saw that Bitters 
was a fellow who must be handled without undue 
consideration. 

“You know well enough what I came for, young 
fellow!” 

“Perhaps I do,” returned Franklin, calmly. 
“And let me advise you that the best thing you 
can do is to leave quietly and at once.” 

“I’ll leave when I feel like it, mind that!” storm- 
ed the discharged truckman. “You ain’t going to 
take the bread out of a poor man’s mouth, and not 
get touched for it.” 

“It was your own fault that you were dis- 
charged.” 

“Say, do you know what I’m going to do?” 
growled Bitters, savagely. “I’m going to make 
you feel sick all over, and I’m going to do it right 
now!” 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


m 


CHAPTER XXIV. 

A SURPRISING STATEMENT. 

As Hank Bitters uttered his threat, he strode to- 
wards Franklin, his face full of fury. 

But the youth did not retreat. Instead he picked 
up a whip that lay handy. 

‘‘I don’t think you will touch me. Bitters,” he 
said. ‘‘Come a step closer, and you shall feel this. 
I am not to be trifled with.” 

Bitters was a coward at heart, especially so when 
not in liquor, which was now the case. As the 
young electrician advanced, he retreated until 
Franklin had driven him back to the doorway. 

“If yon didn’t have that whip, I would show 
you,” remarked Bitters, feeling that somehow he 
wasn’t accomplishing what he had set out to ac- 
complish. 

“ I am very glad I have the whip,” replied Frank- 
lin, simply. “Now clear out and leave me alone.” 

“Say,” exclaimed the truckman, suddenly chang- 
ing his tactics. “ Give me a dollar and we’ll call it 
square all around, and I won’t hurt you.” 


184 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN 


“I am not afraid of being hurt.’’ 

Well, give me the dollar, anyway, will you? I 
am a poor man, and being out of work comes 
hard.” 

“ If you’ll promise not to drink the money up I’ll 
let you have the amount,” said Franklin, who 
thought this a cheap way of avoiding trouble in 
the future. 

“All right. I’ll promise.” 

Upon this the young electrician produced a dol- 
lar bill, and handed it over. Hank Bitters snatched 
it eagerly, and then without another word left the 
premises and hurried up the street. 

“It was a cheap way of getting clear of him,” 
thought Franklin, as he watched the man out of 
sight. “Poor fellow, in one way I feel sorry for 
him !” 

Franklin was soon on his way to the factory 
where he loaded up under the direction of the ship- 
ping clerk. The work was hard, but Franklin was 
strong for his age, and accomplished all that he 
was called upon to do. He made three trips to dif- 
ferent freight depots, and kept careful tally of what 
both he and Macklin took out. 

This work continued for two days longer. During 
the time Frankhn was in and out of the factory 
constantly, and without appearing to do so he 
took an account of the number of batteries 
on hand and learned the number that were 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


185 


being turned out daily. These facts and figures 
were all sent to Belden Brice nightly, for the young 
electrician never failed to write a letter to the specu- 
lator before retiring. 

In the meantime Frankhn became better ac- 
quainted with Walter Kobinson, and learned a few 
more facts concerning Wilbur Bhss and his inven- 
tions. He wondered if the inventor was still alive, 
and if Cora was really his daughter. 

“Perhaps he died and Belden Brice adopted her 
out of the goodness of his heart,” he speculated. 
“It would be just like him to care for the child of 
the man whose patent had helped to make him 
rich.” 

Kobinson had, on one or two occasions, asked 
Frankhn about himself, and the young electrician 
had told his newly found friend as much as he 
dared of his affairs. Perhaps Kobinson thought it 
queer that he did not tell more, but if so the young 
man was too weU bred to mention it. 

On the fourth day after he had arrived in Chica- 
go, Franklin received his first letter from Belden 
Brice. After praising the young electrician for 
what he had thus far done the speculator went on : 

“ I am very much interested in that consignment 
which was taken on board of the freight-boat, Sun- 
fiower. I have an idea that those goods are 
shipped to Milwaukee, or some point further north, 
and then sent to Canada (perhaps smuggled), 
without the Smith Co. making any statement to 


1S6 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN, 


me, or paying the royalty due. If you can possi- 
bly do so, leave your work for a week and try to 
trace the boat to where the goods are discharged, 
or, if you cannot get away, and think it advisable 
to remain at the works on the watch, hire some 
first-class man to watch the next consignment sent 
off.” 

Franklin read this letter with much interest. He 
had thought of the smuggling, and began to im- 
agine that such was the correct solution of the 
mystery. The goods would thus leave the country, 
and it would be next to impossible for Belden Brice 
to trace the fraud that had been practiced upon 
him. 

“ I wouldn’t mind leaving the works, and taking 
a trip on the freight-boat,” he thought. “ It would 
be a change, and when I get back I believe I could 
easily trace up the goods that have been sent out 
during my absence.” 

But to work matters around so that he might 
make the desired shift, was not so easy. Franklin 
thought of many different schemes, but gave up 
each in turn as being awkward, and likely to arouse 
suspicion. 

The week slipped by, and on Saturday afternoon, 
Franklin was handed his pay, with the remark that 
his services would be no longer required aB a truck- 
man. 

The young electrician was surprised at this, as 
he had been given no intimation that he was to be 
discharged. He asked if there was any place va- 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


187 


cant in the factory, and was told no. He walked 
away, considerably worried, thinking that his 
actions had been noticed, and that Montague 
Smith suspected him, and his mission. 

‘‘Maybe they have been watching me, just as I 
have been watching them,’’ thought Franklin. “In 
that case, I had better be careful how I proceed.” 

•The young electrician at once wrote to Belden 
Brice of what had occurred, and asked what he 
should do next. Then, on the follomng Monday 
morning, he walked down to the dock, to see if the 
freight-boa^ had returned. 

The Sunflower was tied up in the same spot she 
had before occupied. No one was visible either, on 
deck or around the cabin. Evidently, the captain 
and most of the crew were ashore. 

Sitting down on the dock, behind a pile of boxes 
and barrels, Franklin gave himself over to many 
reflections. 

“I suppose I could go aboard, and become a 
stowaway,” he thought, as his eyes roamed over 
the freight-boat. “ If I did that I wonder how Cap- 
tain Cosgrove would treat me when I exposed my- 
self? I wouldn’t dare to offer pay for my passage, 
as that would make him suspicious, and, like as 
not, he’d be suspicious, anyway, if he remembered 
me as one of the truck-drivers on his last trip. I 
wonder if I could stow myself away, and keep hid- 
den until we reached our •destination?” 


188 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


While Franklin was speculating in this strain he 
heard two men walk down the dock towards the 
Sunflower. He looked out from his resting place, 
and saw that the pair were Captain Cosgrove and 
Montague Smith. Instantly, he drew out of sight, 
to let the two men pass him. 

“So you think you’ll take a trip to Milwaukee, 
Smith,” remarked the master of the Sunflower. 
“For what? We are taking care of matters all 
right?” 

“ I know you are, captain, so far as the freight is 
concerned,” returned Montague Smith. “But 
there is other business I have up there that must 
be looked after.” 

“Oh!” Captain Cosgrove gave a short laugh. 
“Is Wilbur Bliss’s sister kicking up a fuss 
again?” 

“Hush!” cried Montague Smith, in quick alarm. 
“I wish you would not mention her name when 
talking to me. Somebody might grow suspi- 
cious.” 

“Suspicious of what? You treated her fairly 
enough, didn’t you?” 

“Certainly I did, returned the part owner of the 
battery works. “But then you know how folks 
talk, and it won’t do for me to have any one 
blacken my character around here.” 

“Might reach Belden Brice’s ears, eh? He’s a 
shrewd one.” 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTBICIAN. 


189 


‘‘Why do you mention so many names, captain?’’ 
said Montague Smith, angrily. “It’s not at ah 
necessary.” 

And then the two passed onto the freight-boat, 
and out of Franklin’s hearing. 


190 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


CHAPTER xxy. 

AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION. 

From the brief words which had passed between 
Montague Smith and Captain Cosgrove, the young 
electrician became satisfied that much of the doings 
of the two men had never been made public, and, 
moreover, would not refiect to their credit should 
those doings be exposed. 

‘‘They are deep ones,’’ thought Franklin, as he 
Avatched them enter the cabin of the Sunfiower. 
“EAudently Captain Cosgrove knows all about 
Belden Brice, and how Smith is SAvindling him. I 
would like to hear more of their talk.” 

Had the case in hand been an ordinary one, the 
young electrician would have despised playing the 
eavesdropper. But with him, as Avith everybody 
else, “circumstances altered cases,” and he Avas 
not long in reaching the conclusion that he must 
hear the continuation of the conversation. 

As has been mentioned, the SunfloAver lay close 
beside the dock, and in less than a minute after, 
the two men had disappeared, Franklin AA^as on 
board. Looking around to see that he AA^as not 
observed, he tiptoed his way toAvards the cabin. 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


191 


As the day was wa.rm, every window as well as 
the doors were open, and it was not long- before 
the young electrician was in a position to overhear 
all that was said. 

'‘You say you will take the Goodrich line up to 
Milwaukee to-morrow?” questioned Captain Cos- 
grove, as he opened a box of cigars and passed 
them to Montague Smith. 

" To-morrow or next day. It depends somewhat 
on how matters go at the w^orks.” 

“ Is business good ?” 

" Oh, yes, but then — ” and the part owner of the 
battery works paused. 

“Got to look out that 3^011 don’t payout too 
much in royalties, eh? laughed Captain Cosgrove, 

“A fellow wants to make something,” grumbled 
Montague Smith. “I am not going to work for 
nothing.” 

“How about this new invention?” 

“ Oh, if that works, I’m going to let Belden Brice 
and his patents drop.” 

“ Then the new ideas are so much better?” 

“Some better. The main thing is, they won’t 
cost me anything.” 

“I see. By jove, you and your brother are lucky 
dogs!” cried the captain as he blew a wreath of 
smoke in the air. “I wish I could make money as 
fast as you do.” 

“ Perhaps I’ll give you a chance of making a lit- 


192 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


tie pile one of these days/’ returned Montague 
Smith, thoughtfully. 

‘‘What doing?” 

“I’ll tell you — when the time comes. Now I’ll 
look at those papers, if you please.” 

Captain Cosgrove at once arose, and going to a 
chest of drawers in a corner of the cabin, brought 
forth several documents, which he spread out on 
the cabin table. The two drew up their chairs, and 
for five minutes bent over the papers intently. 

“That seems to be all right,” said Montague 
Smith. “I’ll sign at once.” 

Pen and ink were produced, and he VTote down 
his signature twice. Then he arose and Captain 
Cosgrove put the papers aw^ay. 

Seeing that the pair were about to come on deck 
again, Franklin made haste to get out of sight. 
There was a mass of freight on the forward deck, 
and he hurried behind this, just as the pair once 
more emerged into daylight. 

From his new place of concealment Franklin saw 
the captain and the part ' owner of the battery 
works leave the Sunfiower and stroll down the 
street in the direction of the factory. He thought 
to follow, but before he could do so, two deck hands 
sprang aboard and confronted him. 

“What is it you want?” asked one of them, in a 
business-like way. 

For the instant Franklin knew not what to re- 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN, 


198 


ply, but his natural quick-wittedness came to his 
rescue. 

‘^Is the captain aboard?’’ he questioned. 

I think not,” was the reply. I’ll go and see.” 

The deck hand ran into the cabin. Of course he 
found no one there, and he came back and said the 
captain had gone out and had not yet returned. 

‘^Anything I can do for you?” put in the second 
man. “ I was left in charge.” 

‘‘ I wanted to see if he didn’t want help.” 

“What, to load up?” 

“Yes, and on the trip, too.” 

“I guess not,” said the sailor, and then he looked 
Franklin over. “You’re a gi’een one, ain’t you?” 

“Yes. But I can learn fast.” 

“Learn to get sick most likely, if we have a 
storm!” laughed the sailor, and his companion 
joined in. 

“Well, maybe I could do that, too,” said Frank- 
lin, joining in the laugh good naturedly. “But if 
I do I won’t charge for it.” 

This made the sailors laugh more, and soon the 
three were on good terms all around. 

“Captain Cosgrove does want another man,” 
said he who had been left in charge of the freight 
boat. “Sam Point, who was on the last trip, left 
as soon as we reached Chicago. He was a kind of 
an all-round helper.” 

“That would just suit me— anything where I 


194 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


could be useful,” said Franklin. “You can’t say 
when he’ll be back?” 

“He’ll be here between twelve and one. sure — he 
said so.” 

“ Then I’ll be back. I want to put on my work^ 
ing clothes,” said Franklin. “Please tell him 
about me, will you?” 

“Yes.” 

Franklin hurried ashore, and in an opposite 
direction to that taken by Captain Cosgrove and 
Montague Smith. He did not know if he had made 
a wise movement or not. 

“If I was only positive that he did not know 
me,” he said to himself. “I must change my ap^ 
pearance as much as possible.” 

Without delay, the young electrician boarded a 
street car, and went to his boarding house. Here 
he told Mrs. Gould that he expected to go away to 
remain several days, so she need not worry over 
his absence. 

Franklin put on his oldest clothing and instead 
of his white shirt and neat collar and tie, donned a 
heavy flannel shirt. He left the house unobserved 
and bareheaded, and at the corner hat store pur- 
chased a regular sailor’s cap, which he pulled down 
well over his forehead. He had not washed at alJ, 
but allowed all of the dust and dirt on his hands 
and face to remain where they were. 

“ Now I think I look some different than 1 did,” 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


196 


he thought, as he surveyed himself in the hatter’s 
pier glass. ‘‘If the captain didn’t notice me too 
closely last week he won’t remember me.” 

He walked down to the dock slowly, and arriv- 
ing there again began to talk to the two sailors. 
They were somewhat surprised at the change in his 
appearance, but as he now looked more “natural” 
to them, they said nothing concerning it. 

At the time the sailors had mentioned. Captain 
Cosgrove came back. He leaped on the deck in a 
hurry and looked at Franklin in surprise. 

“Excuse me, but is this Captain Cosgrove?” 
questioned Franklin, politely, and he tipped his 
cap. 

“That’s my name,” returned the owner of the 
Sunflower, shortly. 

“I am looking for a chance to ship on a trip or 
two,” went on Franklin. “ Your men told me you 
might need another hand.” 

“Had any experience?” 

“No sir, but I am willing to learn.” 

“We don’t pay new hands much.” 

“I suppose not. I am willing to ship for low 
pay. It would be better than walking the streets 
doing nothing.” 

“That’s where you are level-headed. What’s 
your name?” 

“ Frankhn.” 

“ Belong in Chicago ?” 


196 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


‘•Well, I thought I would. I only arrived a few 
days ago.’’ 

“I see. Came in the city to try your luck and 
found times hard, eh?” Captain Cosgrove laughed. 
“ I might try you.” 

“Thank you, sir.” 

“We don’t allow any idling on board of the Sun- 
flower.” 

“You’ll And me willing to work.” 

“Then go forward and report to Pollock. He’ll 
give you full instructions.” 

At that moment two trucks were driven down to 
the dock. They were from the Thermo-Galvanic 
Battery Works, and on the seat of the flrst sat 
Macklin, the truckman. 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN, 


197 


CHAPTER XXYI. 

ON LAKE MICHIOAN. 

Not wishing to be discovered by his former work- 
ing companion, Franklin hurried forward as Cap- 
tain Cosgrove had ordered him. Under other 
circumstances he would have made inquiries con- 
cerning the destination of the Sunflower, and the 
pay he might expect, but just now he thought it 
best to say nothing on either point, and calmly 
await developments. 

The two trucks backed close to the boat and the 
work of unloading them began without delay. The 
new man who had taken Franklin’s place was evi- 
dently experienced at the job, and between him and 
Macklin, aided by two hands from the freight-boat, 
the boxed up batteries were stowed in the hold in a 
short space of time. 

While the work was going on, Franklin reported 
to Pollock, the mate, and was assigned a place 
where he might place the small bundle of clothing 
he had brought along. 

‘^Now you had better get on deck and help load 
cargo,” said the mate, after the young electrician 


198 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRIUIAN, 


had made himself at home in his new qnarters. 
‘‘The captain wants to get off early to-da3^” 

Franklin was in a quandary, not wishing to dis- 
obey orders and still unwilling to go where JMack- 
lin might see him. 

“Yes, sir,’’ he said. “I’ll go out as soon as I fix 
my shoes.” 

He sat down, and, while lacing up the shoe slow- 
ly, help came from an unexpected quarter. 

“Hi, Mr. Pollock, ain’t I to hab any help no 
mo’?” cried a voice from the cooking galley, and a 
big negro stalked up, soup ladle in hand, and with 
a wrathful look on his homely visage. 

“Yes, here’s the new hand can help you,” re- 
turned the mate. “ Never mind going on deck,” he 
added to Franklin. “Go and help Jeffers get din- 
ner ready. That will be part of your work while 
you are on board.” 

Glad to get out of what he thought a tight situa- 
tion, the young electrician left the forecastle and 
followed the negro to the galley. 

“Peel those potatoes indat dere basket and open 
dem cans ob green corn,” ordered Jeffers, setting 
him to work without delay. “And after dat yo’ 
kin cut dat piece ob beef up into hash. De dinner 
is an hour behind han’ aready !” 

The work assigned to him was not to his taste, 
but nevertheless Franklin set about it cheerfully. 
Before he had finished the tasks mentioned, and 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


199 


several others Jeffers thought of later on, he was 
relieved to hear the two trucks drive off. 

“ So far I am safe,” he thought. “ Now I wish we 
would leave Chicago, then there won’t be anymore 
trouble to expect from that quarter.” 

Franklin was not kept long in waiting. Dinner 
was sent to the cabin for Captain Cosgrove, and 
while the master of the Sunflower was eating, the 
mate called all hands on deck and the lines were 
cast off. 

The craft, which was by no means large, soon 
slipped out of the river, and by three o’clock in the 
afternoon was heading up Lake Michigan at all the 
speed at her command. 

Franklin had never taken a long trip of any kind 
on the water, and as it was a flne day, he enjoyed 
it immensely. The city and harbor were left in the 
distance, and as soon as it grew dark, land faded 
from sight and they sped along upon one vast 
sheet of dancing water unbroken in any direction 
they might look. 

‘‘This must be like the ocean, only it is smooth- 
er.” thought Franklin. “I wonder how much of a 
trip we are going to make?” 

Franklin became quite well acquainted with Ben 
Stanhope, one of the sailors, and before they re- 
tired for the night asked him their destination, not 
directly, but in a careless manner. 

“you’ll have to ax the cap’n, an’ I \wuldn’t ad- 


200 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


vise it/’ replied Ben Stanhope. He sails where he 
pleases.” 

‘‘But he has to discharge his cargo somewhere, 
doesn’t he?” 

“Yes, but he doesn’t tell where he is going to 
leave that until it’s about time to unload. He’s a 
very peculiar man, Cap’n Cosgrove is.” 

“I should think he was,” thought Franklin, and 
he said no more. 

The bunk that had been assigned to the young 
electrician was neither soft nor clean, and Frank- 
lin, who had always been accustomed to a soft, 
spotless bed, entered it rather gingerly. But he 
was tired, and the rocking of the craft soon put 
him to sleep. 

“All hands on deck!” Such was the cry which 
aroused the young electrician long before daylight. 
He sat up and rubbed his eyes. 

“Did some one call me?” he asked of one of the 
hands, who was busy getting into his clothes. 

“Yes, all hands on deck! The cap’s afraid of a 
storm, and he wants matters looked after.” 

“A storm,” repeated Franklin. “It didn’t look 
like a storm last night.” 

“So much the worse for us, youngster. It’s the 
storms as come up the quickest, that’s the nastiest,” 
and with this wise remark the sailor hurried from 
the forecastle. 

Franklin waited to hear no more, but leaping 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


201 


from his bunk he slipped into his clothing with the 
least possible delay. If they were to encounter a 
storm he wished to be where he could do his duty, 
and thus help avoid possible harm. 

Once on deck the young electrician saw that, 
despite the fact that morning was not far off, the 
heavens were black. The clouds appeared to be 
rolling up from the eastward, and far off could be 
heard the rumbling thunder. 

‘‘The first thunder storm of the season,’’ re- 
marked Ben Stanhope. “An’ I reckon as how it 
will be a whistler when it gits here.” 

The men were ordered aloft, and while they were 
taking in sail, Franklin was set to work clearing 
the decks, and making many things fast. Of course 
it was all new to him, but he did the best he could. 

“You lubber, you!” shouted Captain Cosgrove 
at him, more than once. “ It’s a pity you haven’t 
had more training. That’s no way to tie a rope 1 
Throw the slip around this way.” 

“Yes, sir,” returned Franklin. 

“You’re of no account on deck!” stormed the 
owner of the Sunfiower, five minutes later, as he 
rushed at Franklin, and grabbed him by the 
throat. “ Go down in the cabin, and do what you 
can there. We’ll have lots of rolling presently, 
and unless things are secured they’ll all go to 
smash.” 

Flung aside with these harsh words, Franklin at 
once started to comply with the last order. 


202 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


Already the Sunflower was pitching and tossing 
on the choppy sea, which was every moment get- 
ting worse, and he had all he could do to keep his 
feet. 

‘‘No life on the rolhng deep for me,’’ he muttered 
to himself, as a sudden strange feeling in the region 
of the stomach attacked him. “If it gets much 
rougher, I really believe I’ll be seasick.” 

He came down the companionway on a run, and 
slid half across the cabin before he could stop him- 
self. Then w^hen he did finally start to do the work 
at hand, he found his head spinning around dread- 
fully, while that awful, deadly feeling in his stomach 
kept growing worse with every roll of the vessel. 

“I must brace up!” he murmured, as he sank 
dowm in one of the captain’s armchairs. “I must, 
no matter if I’m turned inside out!” 

And using all of his will-power, Franklin stag- 
gered up, and began to straighten out the cabin. 

He had nearly finished when a vivid flash of 
lightning, followed by a deafening clap of thunder 
startled him. Immediately after, came a heavy 
downpour of rain. 

‘' Shut up all the portholes and windows, Frank- 
lin!” yelled the mate down the companionway. 
“Be lively now!” 

“I’m already closing them, sir.” 

“When you are through come on deck. We’ll 
need every hand while this storm lasts.” 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


203 


To go out into the downpour of rain was not 
pleasant, but there was no help for it, and after 
Franklin had bolted every porthole and every 
window, he crawled up the companionway ladder. 

The rain and wind almost took him off his feet, 
and in less than five minutes he was drenched to 
the skin. He tried to find some shelter beside the 
forecastle, but was ordered aft by Captain Cos- 
grove. 

We want no skulking around during a storm like 
this!” he growled, savagely. “Stand where I can 
see you when I want you. If you don’t I’ll — ” 

A brilliant fiash of 'lightning caused him to break 
off short. Then came a sharp crack and a mighty 
crash of thunder, Which seemed to shake the freight- 
boat from stem to stern. On the instant, the deck 
was littered with a mass of splintered wood, long 
ropes and ribbons of canvas. 

“The foretopmast has been struck!” sang out 
Pollock, the mate. 

“Stand by to clear away the wreck!” rang out 
in Captain Cosgrove’s loudest tones. 

And then the sailors fairly flew in all directions 
for axes and other implements, with which to do as 
they had been ordered. 


204 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


CHAPTER XXYII. 

A MEETING IN A STRANGE CITY. 

For the moment after the foretopmast was struck 
and part of thewTeckage came tumbling almost at 
his feet, Franklin was too startled to either speak 
or move. He held on to the rail and gazed before 
him, with his eyes filled with horror and alarm 
over the situation. He had never witnessed any- 
thing similar to it, and to him it was as if the end 
of everything was close at hand. 

But he was soon aroused from his inaction by 
Captain Cosgrove, who seized him by the shoulder 
and shook him as a dog might shake a rat. 

‘^Didn’t you hear what I said?” shouted the 
owner of the Sunflow^er “ Stand by to clear awa}^ 
the wreck.” 

“Yes, sir,” murmured Franklin, and he moved 
along the deck after Ben Stanhope, who had dis- 
appeared in the direction of the forecastle. 

Every step was full of grave peril to the young 
electrician. The vessel was pitching up and down 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


205 


like a cork on the angry waves, and the water 
swept the deck with almost every lunge of the 
craft. He felt his way along step by step, not 
daring to let go of one object before he had hold of 
the next. 

At length he met Ben Stanhope returning, broad- 
ax in hand. He caught hold of the sailor. 

What shall I do, Ben he asked, “ How can I 
help the most?” 

‘‘Better go below and save yourself from going 
overboard,” returned Ben Stanhope. “You can’t 
do any good up here.” 

“But the captain ordered me to stand by and 
help clear away the wreck.” 

“Well suit yourself. I can’t see what you can 
do, unless you want to go up to the foretop, and 
help chop away the splintered stick.” 

“I don’t think I can manage it up there!” re- 
turned Franklin, with a look up into the darkness 
overhead. 

“But you’ll go up just the same,” put in the 
voice of Captain Cosgrove. “ I won’t have an idler 
aboard. Up you go with Stanhope and help him 
with the ropes while he chops.” 

“But I never climbed a m^t in my life,” said 
Franklin, shrinking back, and not without cause, 
for the trial on the young electrician’s part would 
have been highly dangerous. 

“Never mind, cap’n; I can do the work alone,” 


20 «> BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 

put in Ben Stanhope. “ Let him coil up the ropes 
as they come down.” 

‘‘Well, ^o on and do that, then,” growled the 
owner of the Sunflower, and he proceeded to an- 
other part of the boat. 

The wreckage was soon cleared away, Ben Stan- 
hope working in the foretop, and Franklin and the 
other sailors on the deck. The lightning and thun- 
der still continued, and the rain beat steadily in 
their faces ; but it was apparent that the worst of 
the storm was over. 

“Don’t want no more like this!” exclaimed Ben 
Stanhope, as he came down on deck, completely 
exhausted. “ Say, boys, but that was a close shave, 
wasn’t it?” 

All hands agreed that it was, and Franklin said 
he wished he would never see another storm like it. 

But, as quickly as it had come on, the storm 
passed by just as rapidly. By ten o’clock the sun 
was shining once more, and the rain had ceased 
entirely. 

As soon as the deck had been thoroughly cleared, 
Franklin was sent to the galley once more to help 
Jeffers, the cook, prepare breakfast. He was kept 
in the galley nearly the whole of the day, and, as 
Jeffers proved a hard man to work for, the young 
electrician was completely tired out when night 
came. 

“We ought to be somewhere near Milwaukee bv 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


207 


this time,” he thought. ‘‘The fast steamers make 
the trip in six or seven hours, I’ve been told.” 

Yet the whole day passed, and they made no 
attempt to make a landing, although more than 
once land appeared away off to the westward. 

On the morning of the day foil owing when Frank- 
lin rolled out of his bunk, he heard a loud hailing 
from the deck. Another boat, a large steam tug, 
had been sighted, and by the time the young elec- 
trician was on deck the steam tug was lying along- 
side, and the boxed-up batteries were being trans- 
ferred to her as fast as Ben Stanhope and two men 
from the other boat could accomplish the job. 

“Get to the alley, you!” shouted Captain Cos- 
grove, as soon as he saw Franklin standing by 
watching the operation. “You’re not wanted 
here.” 

Franklin at once obeyed the command. But his 
mind was filled with curiosity concerning the steam 
tug. Before the craft left the side of the freight 
boat, he noted that every one of the boxed-up bat- 
teries which had been shipped by the H. Y. Smith 
Co. were on board. The steam tug’s name was 
Craigshire. 

“ If she’s not a Canadian vessel then I’ll miss my 
guess,” said Franklin to himself, “And if that is 
so, it’s more than likely that we are somewhere in 
the vicinity of the Straits of Mackinaw, although 
how close there is no telling.” 


208 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


Ab soon as the Sunflower had parted company 
with the Craigshire, the former vessel was turned 
about, and they began sailing in a southwest direc- 
tion. 

This course was kept lor two days by the freight- 
boat, and then one evening, just as the sun was 
setting, they sighted Milwaukee, and, entering the 
harbor, moved past several of the drawbridges, 
and tied up at one of the numerous docks. 

Franklin was allowed to go ashore with the rest, 
and he eagerly availed himself of the permission, 
taking his bundle with him. He was very doubt- 
ful if he would ever consent to set foot on the Sun- 
flower again. 

I think I have learned about all I can on board 
of her,” he said to himself; ‘^and life would be far 
more agreeable elsewhere. I’ll get a good wash 
and something fit to eat, and then I’ll think the 
matter over.” 

The young electrician was somewhat surprised 
to find that this city, so far removed from New 
York, and of which he had heard so little, had so 
many of the points of the metropolis about it. He 
had yet to learn how really great our country is, 
and how vast its population. 

Passing along one of the business streets, he 
came to a tonsorial parlor with baths attached. 
He entered the place, and, after having his hair 
cut, proceeded to take a bath and change his 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


209 


clothing. When this was over he felt once more like 
himself. 

His next move was towards a restaurant, and, 
while eating a late supper with exceeding relish, he 
reviewed the situation as it now stood. 

will write to Mr. Brice, and tell him what I 
have learned,’’ he concluded. ‘‘And then I’ll hang 
around here for a few days, and see if I can’t find 
Mr. Montague Smith and that Mrs. Bliss. Who 
knows but what I might stumble across some- 
thfng more worth knowing? There can be no need 
of hurrying back to Chicago. Mr. Brice told me to 
take my own time, and I may never have the 
chance of seeing Milwaukee again.” 

With his bundle under his arm, Franklin left the 
restaurant, and strolled along past the stores, 
looking into this window and that, and noticing 
everything which looked different to what was to 
be seen at home. He spent two hours at this, and 
then, feeling tired, hunted up a cheap hotel, and 
put up there for the night. 

Once more on land, the young electrician felt 
more like himself, and he slept “like a top,” only 
awakening when the porter rapped loudly on the 
door at seven o’clock, the hour at which he left 
orders he should be called. 

After breakfast Franklin hardly knew what to 
do. He strolled out to the front of the hotel to 
think the matter over. 


210 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN, 


While he whs standing there, three men passed 
by, talking earnestly with one another. The young 
electrician heard the name Mrs. Bliss mentioned, 
and then the men passed out of hearing. Two of 
the men were Montague Smith and Captain Cos- 
grove, and, acting on a sudden impulse, Franklin 
left the steps upon which he was standing, and 
started to follow the trio. 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN, 


211 


CHAPTER XXVIII. 

AN INTERESTING MEETING. 

Franklin was almost certain that if he followed 
Montague Smith and Captain Cosgrove and their 
strange companion, he would learn of something 
w^hich would be of importance to Belden Brice. 
The young electrician understood by this time that 
the complications concerning the doings of the H. 
Y. Smith Electrical Co. involved not only the men 
mentioned above, but also Mrs. Bliss and her 
erratic brother Wilbur, and hearing Mrs. Bliss’s 
name mentioned, had had much to do with starting 
him off after the trio. 

The three men disappeared around a near cor- 
ner, and then hurried off in the direction of the 
beautiful park which fronts the lake. They lost no 
time in traversing the park, and then, turning to 
the west, entered one of the most quiet, but select 
streets of the city. 

Franklin could see that the three men were hold- 
ing an earnest conversation, but could not get 
close enough to overhear what was being said, 
having no desire to be discovered. He followed in 


212 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


the shadow of the many shade trees Avhich 
hned the way, and kept this up until the two men 
came to a halt before a large residence set back 
among numerous trees and shrubs. 

“Here we are,’’ he heard the stranger say. 
“Will the captain go in?” 

“I’ll go in, Fipher, certainly,” returned Captain 
Cosgrove. “You don’t suppose I took that long 
walk for nothing.” 

“I didn’t know but what you only wanted to 
hear what I had to say,” returned Nathan Fipher. 
“It won’t do no good for you to see Mrs. Bliss.” 

“Perhaps it will — after I’ve had a talk with 
her,” put in Montague Smith. “He can stay in 
the parlor first.” 

The doorbell was rung, and a girl answered the 
summons. They entered the residence, and then 
the door was closed, and Franklin saw and heard 
no more. 

By this time the curiosity of the young electri- 
cian was aroused to a greater pitch than ever* 
This was the place where Walter Robinson’s rela- 
tive lived, the woman who was most likely little 
Cora’s aunt. He wondered what business Monta- 
gue Smith and the others could have vith her. 

Franklin was on the point of entering the garden 
and reconnoitering, Avith a view to obtaining a 
place where he might see or hear Avhat was going 
on; but, just as his hand was on the gate, the girl 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN, 


213 


who had opened the front door came out with a 
pail of water and a broom, p^nd began to wash off 
the front and then the side piazza, and thus he was 
kept at a distance for the time being. 

Nearly three quarters of an hour passed, and 
then Montague Smith and Captain Cosgrove came 
out, followed by Nathan Fipher, who carried a 
large bundle under his arm. 

“We can arrange all those matters when we are 
on the boat,^’ he heard the captain of the Sun- 
flower say. “There won’t be any use of moving 
until this evening.” 

“You are right there, ’’returned Montague Smith. 
“The darkness is what we want,” and then he and 
his companions started away up the street. 

At first Franklin thought to follow them, but 
changed his mind. He fancied he knew where he 
could find them later on, and just now he was de- 
termined to interview^ Mrs. Bliss, and learn from 
her whatever he could, concerning matters on hand. 

With a heart that w^as beating just a trifle faster 
than was its usual wont, the young electrician 
marched up upon the front piazza and rang the 
bell. 

“I would like to see Mrs. Bliss, ”.he said to the 
girl when she came. 

“Wha — what’s that?” stammered the servant, 
for such she was, and she stared hardly at Frank- 
lin. 


214 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


“I wish to see Mrs. Bliss,” he continued. ‘‘Mr. 
Smith was just here, was he not?” 

' “ Ye-as, sir; but he’s gone, sir.” 

“Gone, eh? Well, never mind, I will see Mrs. 
Bhss, anyway,” returned Franklin, as coolly as he 
could, although the part he was playing excited 
him not a little. 

His cool manner threw the girl off her guard, and 
she at once allow^ed him to enter. She was careful, 
however, to bolt and lock the door behind him, and 
Franklin noted that she placed the key in her 
pocket. 

This latter action aroused his suspicions. Why 
had she done this? — to keep him there until she 
was ready to let him go? He smiled at the 
thought, for he fancied that he could easily escape 
by a window if he washed to flee. 

“Mrs. Bliss is in the front room on the third 
floor,” said the girl. “ Do you know her?” 

“I know of her,” replied Franklin, and, wathout 
pausing for further questioning, he ran up tw^o 
flights of stairs, and knocked on the first door he 
came to. 

“ WhcMS there?” came a rather w^eak voice from 
within. 

“Is that Mrs. Bliss?” questioned Franklin. 

“Yes.” 

“I am a friend of Walter Eobinson. May I come 
in?” 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


215 


“ A friend of Walter!” cried the woman joyfully. 
“Certainly you can come in.” 

Franklin at once tried the door. It was locked. 
This was another surprise. Was it possible that 
Montague Smith and the man called Fipher kept 
Mrs. Bliss a prisoner. 

“I believe you will find the key on the nail,” 
called out Mrs. Bliss. “They generally leave it 
there.” 

Franklin looked around and found the nail 
referred to, but it was empty. 

“I will be back shortly,” he called out, and ran 
downstairs two steps at a time, wondering how 
this strange adventure into which he had fallen was 
going to end. 

In the lower hallway he met the girl, who was 
deliberating about following him up. 

“I want the key to Mrs. Bliss’ room,” he said 
sharply. 

“Yes, sir. But I — I— Mr. Fipher’s orders—” she 
stammered. 

“Never mind Mr. Fipher’s orders. Give me the 
key; I am in a hurry.” 

“Yes, sir. Please, sir, I’m a new girl here, and 
I don’t want to get into any trouble, sir,” and the 
girl looked as if ready to cry. 

“You won’t get into any trouble through me,” 
returned Franklin, more kindly. “ But I can’t un- 
derstand what you have Mrs. Bliss locked up for.” 


216 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN, 


“Mr. Fipher says she has spells when she ain’t 
right in her mind, sir.” 

“ Has she had any spells like that since you have 
been here?” 

“No, sir. She’s generally very mild like, sir,” 

Franklin took the key and said no more. He 
was up the stairs a minute later, and had the door 
to the room unlocked. 

When he entered the apartment he found Mrs. 
Bliss standing waiting for him. She was quite an 
old lady, with white hair and a sad but rather sweet 
face. Franklin could not help but notice the resem- 
blance between her and little Cora. Surely the two 
must be related. 

“And so you are Walter’s friend,” she said, as 
she caught him by both hands. “And did he send 
you to me ? ” 

“No, madam ; but I heard of you through him,” 
replied Franklin, “and as I was in Milwaukee, I 
thought I would come and see you,” he went on, 
hardly knowing how to get at what was in his 
mind. 

“I am glad some one has come to see me,” she 
said, gratefully. “Sit down. I presume you know 
Mr. Fipher.” 

“No, T do not.” 

“Then how did you manage to get in here?” she 
cried, with gTeat curiosity. 

“The girl let me in. I spoke to her as if I had 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


217 


the right to come in. Somehow, I got the idea 
that all was not right here.” 

“Indeed, it is not right!” cried Mrs Bliss, her 
breast heaving with sudden emotion. “ Why, they 
actually keep me a prisoner here, saying I’m not in 
my right mind.” 

“Who keeps you a prisoner— Mr. Fipher?” 

“Yes. But he is merely working for Montague 
Smith. Do you know that man?” 

“Yes.” 

“He is a heartless villain!” Mrs. Bliss dropped 
into a chair and burst into tears. “ Oh. my young 
friend, will you help me to escape from here?” 

“Certainly I will,” returned Franklin, promptly. 
“They have no right to keep you a prisoner here.” 

“ No, you are right. But do you know why they 
do it?” cried the woman, passionately. “They do 
it because I know their secret. Shall I tell you 
what it is? Montague Smith hired a man out in 
the east to kill my brother Wilbur. They did it to 
get possession of Wilbur’s valuable patents and in- 
ventions. They made away with my poor brother, 
and now Montague Smith and this other man— 
Price, or Brice, or whatever his name is— are living 
upon their ill-gotten gains.” 


218 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


CHAPMER XXIX. 

FRANKLIN DECIDED TO ACT. 

For the moment the young electrician could do 
little else but stare at the woman. What was this 
she was saying, that Montague Smith and Belden 
Brice had conspired and taken her brother’s life ? 
No, no ; so far as his one friend was concerned, this 
could never be true. ' 

Mrs. Bliss sprang to her feet and began to wring 
her hands. ‘‘They say I am crazy, but I am not; 
no, no, I am as sane as anybody can be !” 

“Won’t you tell me your story?” questioned 
Franklin, trying hard to remain calm. “Are you 
not mistaken about your brother Wilbur being 
murdered by some man in the east?” 

“How can I be mistaken? Did I not hear 
Montague Smith own up as much with his own 
lips ? He pretends to be my friend — says he had 
nothing to do with the deed, but I know — oh, in- 
deed I know!” 

“When did you hear from your brother last?” 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


219 


asked the young electrician, as quietly as he could, 
for he saw that Mrs. Bliss was working herself up 
into a state bordering upon hysteria. 

It is over a year ago. He was then in Milwau- 
kee. He had sold one patent to this man in the 
east, and was working on several new inventions. 
He came here once to talk to me, and then he was 
taken away by Montague Smith and his compan- 
ions— Fipher and somebody else.’’ 

‘‘ Did your brother have a child — a little girl?” 

‘‘Yes; Wilbur had an only child, named Cora. 
He left her in some home in New York City, I be^ 
lieve. He couldn’t very well take care of her and 
work on his inventions.” 

Franklin drew a long breath. His supposition 
was correct concerning little Cora. She was really 
Wilbur Bliss’s daughter. 

“I could not understand how Wilbur could leave 
that child,” went on Mrs. Bliss. “But he was so 
wrapped up in his inventions, he thought of noth- 
ing else. And to think they acted so towards 
him!” and again she began to weep. 

“And you never heard from your brother after 
he was taken away?” 

“I heard through Montague Smith one day, 
when he was talking to Fipher, that Wilbur had 
been sent east and that that man. Price or Brice, 
was going to take care of him so that he would 
never bother anybody again. Oh, it was shame- 
ful I They ought all to be arrested !” 


220 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN, 


“Certainly, if they are guilty of what you say,” 
returned Franklin. “But let me tell you some- 
thing. I know a httle of this case, and I am cer- 
tain that Mr. Brice had nothing to do with it— in 
the manner you suppose. He is a thorough gen- 
tleman, and would never stoop to anything low or 
mean.” 

Mrs. Bliss opened her eyes widely. “You know 
this man, whose name you say is Brice?” she 
gasped. 

“Yes.” 

“And did you ever hear of Wilbur through 
him?” 

“No. But I think I know of your brother’s 
child. If 1 am not mistaken, Mr. Brice is taking 
very good care of her.” 

“He has her!” She i)aused, and walked across 
the floor of the room, “If he is a good man, as 
you say, why doesn’t he compel Montague Smith 
to release me and give me a chance to tell my story 
to the world?” 

“That I know nothing about. Perhaps he has 
reasons, and perhaps he does not know that you 
are conflned here. If you wish, I mil communicate 
with him on that point,” added Franklin, with 
sudden determination. 

“Do so, at once! But perhaps he can do noth- 
ing!” She placed her Hvo hands to her forehead. 
“How my head aches! I have been in this room 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


221 


SO long that sometimes I think I am really going 
crazy, as they seem to wish me to 

‘‘You must not excite yourself,” returned Frank- 
lin, quietly. “Now I have learned of this matter, 
I will be your friend, and will do what I can for 
you.” 

“ Oh, thank you. May I ask your name?” 

“Frankhn told her, and then a long conversa- 
tion followed, all of the particulars of which cannot 
be given here. Mrs. Bliss admitted that she had 
no further proofs of her brother’s death than what 
Montague Smith had said, nor could she prove 
anything to Belden Brice’s discredit, much to the 
young electrician’s relief. She knew that Montague 
Smith was a villain for having had her kept a 
prisoner, and in her peculiar state of mind fancied 
that all of the men with whom he had dealings 
were as bad as himself. 

Franklin listened closely to all she had to say, 
and then told her part of his own story. She 
wished him to send for Walter Eobinson, and this 
he promised to do, and he also decided in his own 
mind to notify Belden Brice without delay of his 
discoveries. The speculator might feel put out to 
think he had dabbled in his private affairs, but 
this could not be helped. 

When Franklin was ready to leave, he hardly 
knew what to do. If the servant girl below should 
tell Fipher of his visit, the man might cause Mrs. 


222 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN, 


Bliss much trouble before aid came to her. Indeed, 
he might even notify Montague Smith, and have 
her removed to other quarters. 

What is your name?” he asked of the girl,;as 
he confronted her in the lower hallway. 

‘‘Mary Ardell, sir,” she replied, with some hesita- 
tion. 

“You are alone in the house?” 

“Yes, sir.” 

“Well, now, Mary, if you wish to avoid trouble 
with the police, you will say nothing of my visit 
here to anyone,” went on Franklin, in a command- 
ing tone, for he saw that the girl was one to be 
easily influenced. 

“Oh, dear, sir, I haven’t done anything, sirl” 
she cried, in alarm. 

“I know you have not, and I wish to keep you 
out of trouble. Will you promise to say nothing 
of my visit here to Mr. Fipher? Mrs. Bliss will 
keep silent concerning it.” 

“But what’s going to happen, sir?” 

“ That I cannot tell you. But you had better do 
as I say if you wish to keep out of trouble.” 

“ Sure and I want no trouble ! If my month was 
up Fd leave to-day, sir!” 

“I would rather you would stay. And Mary, if 
you will befriend Mrs. Bliss a bit, I will see to it 
that you are well rewarded.” 

“Thank you, sir, and you won’fc get me into any 
trouble?” 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN, 


223 


‘‘Not with the police.’’ 

“Franklin talked to the girl a few minutes longer, 
and then, satisfied that she would act as he desired, 
left the house. 

The young electrician’s first work on reaching 
the business pc )rtion of the city again was to send 
two telegrams, one to Walter Kobinson, telling 
him that Mrs. Bliss wished very much to see him 
at once, and the second to Belden Brice, acquaint- 
ing that gentleman as briefly as possible with the 
situation. 

“I don’t knowif Mr. Brice will blame me or not,” 
thought Franklin as he left the telegraph office. 
“But I am doing what I think is best.” 

The telegrams sent, Franklin started off in the 
direction of the river. He expected he would find 
Montague Smith, Captain Cosgrove and Fipher at 
the freight boat, or in its vicinity, and he was 
anxious to ascertain the next move this trio of 
conspirators intended to make. 

But at the river a surprise greeted him. The 
Sunflower had left her mooring and was nowhere 
in sight ! 

“Hullo, this is strange!” murmured Franklin to 
himself. • ‘ I wonder where they have taken her. ’ ’ 

He hunted up and down the water front for sev- 
eral blocks in both directions, but without success, 
and finally came back to the point from which he 
had started. 


224 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTEIGIAN. 


“What are you looking for?'’ asked a bluff old 
man who sat smoking at one end of the dock, as he 
gazed at Franklin curiously. 

“I am looking for the Sunflower,” returned the 
young electrician. 

“She cast off about half an hour ago.” 

“And where did she go?” 

“Down to the harbor, I believe. I heard the 
captain say something about droppin’ anchor off 
the lake front.” 

“You didn’t hear what part?” 

The old man scratched his head reflectively. 

“Well, I did hear a gentleman say to the captain 
something about lying opposite the park.” 

Franklin started. For what purpose would they 
bring the Sunflower to anchor at such a place as 
that? 

The young electrician remembered what Monta- 
gue Smith had said about the darkness being 
favorable to their plans. Clearly, something im- 
portant was in the wind. 

“I must And out the whereabouts of the Sun- 
flower,” said Franklin to himself. “And 1 must do 
all I can towards watching those men until Walter 
Eobinson comes and I hear from Mr. Brice.” 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN 


225 


t 


CHAPTEK XXX. 

FEANKLIN SHOWS HIS PLUCK. 

With slow and thoughtful steps the young elec- 
trician left the vicinity of the river, and made his 
way towards the park which he had before visited. 

Franklin realized that he was now embarking 
upon a project that was entirely foreign to that 
upon which Belden Brice had sent him. But he 
could not resist Mrs. Bliss’s appeal, and he did not 
know but what the exposure of Montague Smith 
and his methods would ultimately result to the 
speculator’s credit. 

When the young electrician reached the park, 
which, by the way, is one of the prettiest sights in 
the city of Milwaukee, he ran up to the top of the 
little hill which fronts upon the great lake, and 
gazed earnestly out upon the broad expanse of 
water, now shimmering in the glare of the midday 
sun. 

His long look was well rewarded. Some distance 
out, but still near enough for him to make no mis- 
take concerning her identity, lay the Sunflower. 


226 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


As far as he could make out, only a single sailor 
was on deck. Neither Captain Cosgrove nor the 
others were in sight. 

“They have come ashore again, ’’thought Frank- 
lin. “And the question is, where have they 
gone?” 

Franklin watched the freight boat for some time 
and then turned his steps once more in the direc- 
tion of the residence in which Mrs. Bliss was kept a 
prisoner. 

“That Fipher will not dare to leave that new 
girl with Mrs. Bliss too long,” he reasoned. “He 
will soon be coming back to learn if matters are all 
right.” 

As Franklin turned into the street upon which 
the house stood, he saw a close carriage driven 
along at good speed. The carriage stopped in 
front of the Fipher place and Fipher and Montague 
Smith alighted. 

At once the young electrician sprang out of sight 
behind a tree. He saw Fipher lead the horse 
around to a stable in the rear of the house, and 
then he and his companion entered the mansion. 

Burning with curiosity to learn the meaning of 
Montague Smith’s second visit to the lady, Frank- 
lin resolved upon a bold movement. Tha.t was to 
enter the house by a side window, which he saw 
was open, and gain some position where he might 
hear and see what took place. 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN, 


227 


When once his mind was made up the young 
electrician did not hesitate to act. He had soon 
passed through the window, which was but a few 
feet from the ground, and now found himself in a 
handsomely furnished library, 

Franklin heard the murmur of voices in the hall 
beyond, and then a hand on the knob of the door. 
He had barely time to conceal himself behind a 
large revolving bookcase when Fipher and Monta- 
gue Smith entered. 

“I think you handle her too well, Fipher,’’ 
Montague Smith was saying. “She will never 
break down under such kind treatment.” 

“I don’t handle her well at all,” growled Nathan 
Fipher. “I do everything I know how, outside of 
starving or striking her, to bring her to terms. 
But it ain’t any use — she won’t give in.” 

“I think I could manage her if I tried,” returned 
the part owner of the battery works. “ What has 
she to say when you approach her?” 

“Sticks to it that Wilbur didn’t give her the 
drawings, and that she doesn’t know anything of 
the inventions.” . 

“But he said she had them.” 

“I know he did. But what are you going to do 
about it when she denies it?” 

Montague Smith bit the ends of his elegantly- 
waxed moustache nervously. 

“It’s a confounded shame, Fipher! I migh"> 


228 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN, 


make a fortune out of that invention if I could 
only get the plans and specifications.’’ 

‘‘As valuable as that, eh?” 

“Yes— if they are brought to light soon. Of 
course in a few years they may be valueless — if 
somebody else comes along with something better.” 

“Well, I’ve done the best I could for you,” re- 
sponded Nathan Fipher, doggedly. Why don’t 
you try to make an impression on her yourself?” 

“ By jove 1 1 will !” cried Montague Smith. “But 
then, you know, she thinks I helped get her brother 
out of the way,” he added, suddenly. 

“Why don’t you hint at the truth and promise 
to let her know all if she does as you wish her to?” 

“That’s an idea, Fij)her ! I’ve a good mind to 
go at once!” 

“We’ve got a couple of hours to spare. I’ll go 
out and look after the horse, and you can go up if 
you wish. I reckon it won’t do any harm.” 

-The two talked the matter over for a minute 
longer, and then Montague Smith determined to 
carry out the plan. 

Nathan Fipher immediately passed out of the 
house in the direction of the barn. In leaving the 
room he almost brushed against Franklin’s coat- 
sleeve, and the young electrician hardly dared to 
breathe for fear of discovery. 

Montague Smith lost no time in carrying out 
the plan that was in his mind. He walked out 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


229 


into the hallway, and Franklin heard him ascend- 
ing the stairs swiftly. 

“What’s to be done next?” the young electrician 
asked himself several times. 

It did not take him long to answer the question. 
Now he had once embarked upon his perilous en- 
terprise, he determined to go through with it to 
the finish. 

Accordingly, no sooner had he heard Montague 
Smith unlock the door and enter Mrs. Bliss’s apart- 
ment than he entered the hallway and crept noise- 
lessly up the stairs after the man. 

Montague Smith had closed the door behind him, 
evidently that he might not be disturbed by the 
servant girl, who was supposed to be in the kitchen 
preparing dinner. But by stepping close to the 
barrier, and placing his ear to the keyhole, Frank- 
lin readily overheard what was said inside. 

“Look out for that battery!” he heard Mrs. 
Bliss cry in alarm. “You will knock it from the 
stand if you are not careful.” 

‘ ‘ Confound the thing, ’ ’ returned Montague Smith. 
“What is it, anyhow?” 

“It is a medical battery Wilbur constructed for 
me years ago. Poor Wilbur I Oh, how could you 
have the heart to — to kill him?” 

“There, let us talk of something else, Mrs. Bliss,” 
returned the part owner of the battery works. “ I 
want to know \vhat you have done with the papers 
your brother Wilbur left with you.” 


230 


BOUND TO BE AN EEECTE WIAN. 


‘‘He left no papers with me, and if he' had, I 
would have burnt them up before I would give 
them to you. Fipher has asked me for them, too, 
I suppose on your account, you base villain!” 

“ There, there I don’t ^et excited, madam. You 
must remember that we are doing our best for you 
here.” 

“Indeed! I do not see it. Why don’t you set 
me free?” 

“ It would not be best for you to be free. Your 
mind needs rest and quietness.” 

“I shall be free some day, and then I will have 
you punished,” cried the woman, pointedly. 

“What do you mean?” demanded Montague 
Smith, in alarm. 

“Never mind, I shall be free as sure as there is a 
sky above!” 

“Has any one been communicating with you — 
the servant girl or any one else?” 

“I shall not answer that question.” 

“Yes you will, returned Montague Smith, rough- 
ly. “If that girl has been doing outside errands 
for you I want to know it.” 

“Mary has done nothing for me,” returned Mrs. 
Bliss, “excepting to treat me better than any of 
the others ever did.” 

“But you have heard something in some way,” 
persisted Montague Smith, whose suspicions Avere 
now aroused. 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


231 


‘‘Supposing I have, I shall not tell you all I 
know. Now leave me, I would prefer to be alone.’’ 

“I won’t leave until you have revealed your se- 
crets to me, Mrs. Bliss. Kemember you are in my 
power.” 

•‘I know that only too well. But you have 
threatened me before, so I am not so fearful as I 
might otherwise be.” 

“But you must know that there is a limit to 
everything. You must tell me all you know or suf- 
fer the consequences,” and Montague Smith caught 
the woman by the arm fiercely. 

Let me go!” she criec^, in alarm. “Let me go, 
Montague Smith!” 

She began to shriek in terror, and thinking that 
the rascal meant to do her bodily harm, Franklin 
shoved open the door and sprang into the room. 

“Let go of Mrs. Bliss!” he cried, as he advanced 
upon Montague Smith. “Let go of her, or I will 
crack you over the head with a chair !” 

And catching up the article of furniture he had 
mentioned, he stood ready to strike. 


232 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


CHAPTER XXXI. 

A BATTERY TURNS THE TABLES. 

Franklin’s entrance was so totally unexpected 
that Montague Smith could do little else but stare 
at him in open-mouthed amazement. Mrs. Bliss 
started back in affright, and then gave a joyous 
cry. 

Oh, how glad I am that you have come back !” 
she cried. 

‘‘So it is you!” burst from the lips of Montague 
Smith, at last. “The young fellow that worked 
for me last week I What does this mean ?” 

“ It means that you are not to mistreat Mrs. 
Bliss,” returned Franklin, as calmly as he could, 
although he was wrought up to the top pitch of 
excitement. 

“See here, are you merely a spy?” fumed the 
part owner of the battery works, as he left the 
woman’s side and confronted the young electrician. 
‘, Did you merely hire out with me for the purpose 
of watching my doings?” 

“Never mind about that,” returned Franklin, 
coldly. “I am here just now to defend this lady, 
and I propose to do it.” 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


233 


“You— a boy!” sneered Montague Smith, but 
for all his words he appeared decidedly uneasy in 
mind. 

“Yes; I am only a boy; but I am pretty strong 
and quick, as you will find if you molest Mrs. Bliss 
any further.” 

“How did you get into this house?” asked Mon- 
tague Smith, curiously. 

I crawled into one of the windows.” 

“Do you know I can have you arrested for 
that?” 

“I am willing to risk it. I fancy you would like 
first rate to have me tell my story in court.” 

The part owner of the battery works bit his hp. 
Frankhn’s appearance on the scene had completely 
nonplussed him, and he knew not how to proceed. 

“You have been here before,” he went on, after a 
pause. 

“I have.” 

“For what purpose?” 

“That is my affair — and Mrs. Bliss.” 

“And I’ll make it my affair, too 1” cried Monta- 
Smith, savagely. “Put down that chair.” 

“Not much!” 

“You won’t?” 

“No.” 

“Do you want me to shoot you?” 

“Oh, no! no! no!” shrieked Mrs. Bliss, in imme- 
diate and wild alarm. “Do not shoot my one 
friend !’' 


234 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


For the instant Franklin was startled. But as 
Montague Smith failed to exhibit any firearm he 
concluded that the man was merely trying to 
frighten him. 

You would not dare shoot me,” he said. The 
neighborhood would be aroused.” 

Nonsense ! the next house is fully five hundred 
feet away!” 

‘^Not over two hundred. Besides, you forget 
that I have been here before, and — ” 

‘‘Well?” 

“Would it not be natural, after learning of Mrs. 
Bliss’s situation, to summon assistance. 

Montague Smith turned pale. The shot had 
struck home. A brief vision of policemen filing 
into the house and arresting him and Fipher 
crossed his mind. He sprang forwmrd and hurled 
Franklin and the chair against the wall. 

“I am not caught so easily I” he cried. “ Fipher I 
Fipher! come up here, quick!” 

Thrown up against the wall, Franklin was for a 
few seconds at a disadvantage. But he recovered, 
and then he and Montague Smith began to wrestle 
for the possession of the chair. 

At length Franklin pushed the chair over his 
head, and, putting out his foot, he sent the part 
owner of the battery works on his back. Monta- 
gue Smith’s head struck the corner of a bureau, 
and he gave a cry of pain. 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


235 


‘‘ I’ll fix you for that, boy !” 

don’t intend yon shall have the chance!” 
panted Franklin, almost winded by the short but 
sharp struggle. “Lie still where you are, unless 
you want the chair over your skull I” 

“ That’s right— don’t let him get up again I” put 
in Mrs. Bliss, in a trembling voice. “He will kill 
you if he gets the chance I I know just how violent 
he is when he is aroused.” 

“If I had a cord I would bind him,” said Frank- 
lin. “That man, Fipher may come — ” 

“Hi I what’s the matter here I” demanded a voice 
from the hallway, and then Nathan Fipher strode 
into the room, a look of commingled bewilderment 
and astonishment upon his rather dried-up fea- 
tures. 

“ Seize the young rascal!” cried Montague Smith 
“Seize him, Fipher, and don’t let him get away!” 

“But who is he?” 

‘ A friend of Mrs. Bliss. I don’t know how he has 
learned of her being here. Catch him, I tell you, be- 
fore he makes for the door and gets away from us!” 

At the command Nathan Fipher sprang upon 
Franklin and a fierce struggle ensued. Montague 
Smith, thinking he now had a chance to join in, at- 
tempted to rise, but before he could accomplish it 
Mrs. Bliss sprang at him, a heavy water pitcher in 
her uplifted hand. 

“Stay where you are, Montague Smith!” she 


23G 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN, 


said, shrilly. ‘‘Both of you shall not fight that 
brave boy!” 

“Nonsense. Mrs. Bliss! It is for the best. He is 
no friend to you,” fumed the part owner of the 
battery works. 

He pushed the woman aside, and, though she 
brought down the pitcher with all her force, he was 
lucky enough to dodge it. The next moment both 
he and Nathan Fipher had Franklin fiat on his 
back on the floor, and were doing their best to beat 
him into insensibility with their fists. 

The young electrician objected very strongly to 
this treatment. The first blow sent the hot blood 
surging through his veins, and the second made 
him truly desperate. 

Drawing up his knee, he kicked out vigorously, 
and his heavy shoe caught Nathan Fipher directly 
in the chin, causing that individual to howl with 
sudden pain. Then Franklin turned all of his 
attention to Montague Smith. 

Over the two rolled, until they lay almost 
directly under the stand upon which stood the 
battery Wilbur Bliss had made for his sister’s 
use, to cure her rheumatism. 

“Look out for my battery!” cried Mrs. Bliss. 
“Don’t knock it over!” No one paid any atten- 
tion to her. Nathan Fipher had somewhat recov- 
ered from the shock of the kick in the chin, and 
again came forward, bent upon planting his heel 
upon Franklin’s chest. 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


237 


The young electrician saw the man’s movement, 
and caught Fipher’s boot in his hand. Unable to 
balance himself on one leg, Fipher fell to the floor 
upon Montague Smith, Franklin just managing to 
roll to one side. Franklin immediately scrambled 
to his feet. 

“Up and after him !” cried the part owner of the 
battery works, wrathfully. “Get off of me, Fipher!” 

He gave a push and attempted to rise. His push 
sent Fipher against the stand, and over came Mrs. 
Bliss’s battery, knocking the cells, plates, and 
other articles in all directions. 

On the instant a fearful yell from both Montague 
Smith, and Nathan Fipher arose. They had been 
severely burned by some chemicals from the bat- 
tery, and for the time being could think of nothing 
but their own pains. 

“Let us go!” whispered Franklin to Mrs. Bliss, 
and hand in hand they darted out of the room. 


238 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


CHAPTER XXXII. 

THE DEAD ALIVE. 

Franklin knew very well that it would not do 
for him to remain on the scene longer. He was but 
a boy against two men, and it would only be a 
question of time as to when they would get the 
better of him. 

The young electrician was, however, unwilling to 
leave Mrs. Bliss to her fate, not knowing what 
Montague Smith would do in his present state of 
mind. 

Out into the hallway flew the pair, and then 
Franklin led the lady down the stairs as quickly as 
her trembling hmbs would permit. 

‘‘T haven’t walked down stairs in years,” she ex- 
plained. ‘‘ They kept me in that room day in and 
day out.” 

The two had hardly reached the lower hall when 
they heard one of the men come out of the room 
above. 

^‘Stop! stop!” came in the voice of Montague 
Smith. “Stop, Mrs. Bliss; that boy is onlyget- 
ting you into trouble!” 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


239 


''I will venture my fate with you/’ said the lady, 
clinging tightly to Franklin’s arm. ''Oh, do not 
let them catch us !” 

The servant girl had appeared on the scene, 
but, brushing her aside, Franklin flung open the 
front door. He and Mrs. Bliss were soon on the 
piazza. 

"I wish I had a carriage handy,” said the young 
electrician. 

" Oh, never mind ; I can run !” cried the lady, and 
leaping to the garden path she sped toward the 
gate, just as Montague Smith appealed in the 
lower hallway. 

The man had his handkerchief up to the side of 
his face, and had evidently suffered not a little 
from the acidiferous chemicals which the battery 
had contained. 

"You young villian, you!” he cried, "Come 
back here this instant I” 

To this command Franklin paid no attention. 
He followed Mrs. Bliss out of the garden, and the 
two ran as far as the corner, which they turned 
and then continued on at a somewhat slower gait. 

"Will they follow us, do you think?” panted the 
poor lady, as she stopped for a moment and put 
her hand to her heart. 

"That’s hard to say. If they do we can have 
them arrested. They have no legal right to keep 
you a prisoner.” 


240 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN, 


“Fipher said he had. He said a doctor had 
given him a certificate that I was insane!” 

guess you are not insane now,” smiled Frank- 
lin. “ Here comes an empty cab. Supposing I put 
you in that?” 

have no money to pay for a cab.” 

That will be all right,” returned the young elec- 
trician. 

He hailed the driver of the cab, and without de- 
lay assisted Mrs. Bliss into the vehicle and got in 
beside her. 

Where shall we go?” he asked. 

“ I don’t know,” she returned, blankly. “ I know 
nothing of Milwaukee any more.” 

“I will take you to one of the hotels, if you 
wish:” 

‘^But I have no money — ” 

will pay the bills, so do not worry about 
that,” said Franklin, and he directed the driver to 
drive at once to a large hotel he had noticed the 
day before during his walk around the city. 

On the way Frankhn looked back a number of 
times, but so far as he could ascertain they were 
not followed. 

have telegraphed to Walter Robinson,” he 
said to his companion. “He will probably come 
up in a day ov two, and then you can confer with 
him as to what will be best to do.” 

“You are very kind,” replied Mrs. Bliss, fervidly. 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


241 


‘‘Ido not know howl can repay you for all of 
your trouble.” 

“I have also sent word to Mr. Brice/’ went on 
the young electrician. “I feel sure that he can do 
much toward clearing up this mystery concerning 
your brother. I feel certain he had nothing to do 
with the crime.” 

Mrs. Bliss shook her head doubtfully. She had 
always heard through her captors that the specu- 
lator had had much to do with the affair, and she 
must have positive proof before she could believe 
otherwise. 

The hotel reached, Franklin led the lady into the 
parlor, and then hired a room for her, paying for 
three days in advance, as she had no baggage. 
They were at once led to the apartment by a bell- 
boy, and the young electrician proceeded to make 
her as comfortable as he could. 

“It is not likely that Montague Smith will find 
you here — at least, not for some time. In the 
meantime, shall I call on the police for aid?” 

“I would rather wait until Walter Eobinson 
comes.” 

“Very well. But in the meantime, I will watch 
Montague Smith and Nathan Fipher, so that they 
have no chance to get away.” 

“But Montague Smith would not run away, 
would he? Has he not a large interest at stake in 
Chicago?” 


242 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


‘‘Not 80 large, perhaps, as you think. And if he 
was concerned in the murder of your brother he 
would not let that stand in the way, no matter 
how important it was.’’ 

“You are certainly right. Yes; you had better 
watch them; but, oh! beware of trouble!” 

“1 will manage to take care of myself,” returned 
Franklin. “ Here is some money you may find use- 
ful until Walter comes,” and he handed her a ten- 
dollar bill. 

Once out on the sidewalk, the young electrician 
hesitated. Should he return to the mansion 
openly, or should he once more play the part of a 
spy?” 

“I have a good mind to watch them openly,” he 
said to himself. “They will not dare to molest 
me in public. If they attempt to do anything of 
the kind. I’ll have them arrested on my own 
account.” 

With this resolve, he started once again in the 
direction of the residence in which Mrs. Bliss had 
been kept so long a prisoner. 

But a surprise was in store for him. Hardly had 
he traveled a block when a hand was placed on his 
shoulder, and he found himself confronted by Wal- 
ter Eobinson. 

‘ ‘ This is what I call luck ! ’ ’ cried W alter. ‘ ‘ To ar- 
rive in town and run across you, all inside of ten 
minutes. What is the news ? ’ ’ 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


243 


^^The news is very important, and you are no 
more glad to see me than I am to see you,” cried 
Franklin, as he shook the other’s hand. ‘^Come 
with me. Mrs. Bliss is at the hotel over there.”' 

‘‘Safe and sound?” 

“Yes, and waiting to see you. Come.” 

“Certainly. By the way, I have a most aston- 
ishing bit of news for her, I think.” 

“ Concerning this matter on hand ?” 

“ Yes. Her brother Wilbur is alive. He has just 
returned from a visit to Australia.” 


244 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


CHAPTER XXXIII. 

CONCLUSION. 

Franklin was intensely surprised at Walter 
Robinson’s astonishing declaration. 

“Do you mean to tell me that Wilbur Bliss is 
alive?” he cried. 

“Exactly.” 

“ Mrs. Bliss thinks him dead — that he was mur- 
dered.” 

Well, it is due to his pure luck that he is alive. 
Montague Smith sent him on a voyage from which 
he was never expected to return, but he discovered 
the plot against him and thwarted his enemies. 
There was a man on the vessel w^ho was expected 
to dump Wilbur Bliss overboard in mid-ocean, but 
he got sick wdth the small-pox and Wilbur nursed 
him through it, and the man got so ashamed of 
himself that he confessed the whole thing. He left 
the ship at Melbourne, and Wilbur started for 
home to accuse Montague Smith of the whole 
thing. But the ship was wrecked, and Wilbur was 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN, 


245 


cast away on an island, and did not get back to 
San Francisco until five days ago.” 

‘‘I declare, it sounds like a fairy tale!” cried 
Franklin. ‘‘Where is Wilbur Bliss now?” 

“ He has gone to hunt up his sister, while I came 
to hunt up you.” 

“ Find him and bring him along without delay,” 
said the young electrician. 

Walter Kobinson knew exactly what street Wil- 
bur Bliss had taken in starting on his search, and 
he found the man in less than a quarter of an hour. 
Then the two, accompanied by Franklin, went to 
the hotel at which the latter had left Mrs. Bliss. 

The meeting between brother and sister was a . 
very affecting one. Mrs. Bliss could hardly believe 
her eyes, and shed many tears of joy, in which the 
inventor joined. It was a scene Franklin never 
forgot. 

One of the first questions Wilbur Bliss asked, was 
concerning his only child, whom he had left in the 
Home in New York when he had started for Aus- 
tralia on the trip upon which Montague Smith had 
sent him. 

Franklin asked for a description of the child, and 
from this, said he felt certain that little Cora was 
the one. Subsequent events proved such to be the 
case. Belden Brice had adopted her, merely be- 
cause he was lonely, and because he desired to do 
something for the man, who had left the country 


246 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


after selling him a patent, upon which he had 
realized a small fortune. 

Belden Brice had expected to return the child to 
Wilbur Bliss upon his return, but, through Mon- 
tague Smith had received the report that the in- 
ventor was dead ; Smith believing such to be the 
case, as he had never heard from his tool to the 
contrary. To clear himself, if possible, Montague 
Smith had cought to make Mrs. Bliss believe that 
Belden Brice wms solely to blame for her brother’s 
disappearance and supposed death. 

After the joyful meeting at the hotel, a visit was 
paid to the nearest police station, and officers were 
sent to the residence occupied by Nathan Fipher, 
with a view to arresting the man and Montague 
Smith. The officers found the place deserted, even 
the servant girl having disappeared. 

^‘It is more than likely Montague Smith has re- 
turned to Chicago,” said Franklin. “It would be 
w^ell to telegraph to that city and have him held.” 

A telegram w’as sent, and on the following day 
Montague Smith was arrested at his home, where 
he was packing his trunk preparatory to fleeing 
to Canada. Nothing was discovered concerning 
Fipher; and Captain Cosgrove and the Sunflower 
also disappeared, to be searched for in vain. 

When Franklin returned to Chicago, he found 
Belden Brice waiting for him. The speculator 
listened to all that his young employee had to tell 
with much interest. 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


247 


“I declare, Franklin, you have played the part 
of a genuine hero !” he exclaimed, when the young 
electrician had finished. ‘‘You have accomphshed 
far more than I sent you to do. I am heartily 
thankful that this mystery concerning Wilbur 
Bliss is cleared up. I shall miss little Cora very 
much, but I am glad she has her father to look 
after her once more.’’ 

Through confessions made by Montague Smith, 
it was learned that the batteries shipped on the 
Sunfiower had really been smuggled into Canada. 
From there many had been shipped to England, 
Germany, and France, the patents holding good 
in those countries. In the past two years Belden 
Brice had been swindled by the H. Y. Smith Co. out 
of little short of thirty thousand dollars in royal- 
ties. 

Montague Smith was released under bail fur- 
nished by a friend, and disappeared a week before 
his trial was to come off. His friend at once set up 
a claim against his property ; as did also Belden 
Brice, and Wilbur Bliss and his sister. 

It took nearly a year to straighten out the legal 
complications arising out of the mixed condition 
of affairs. At the end of that time, however, all 
claims were paid, to the satisfaction of everybody. 
Belden Brice and Wilbur Bliss bought the battery 
works jointly, and soon after began to manufac- 
ture several new styles of batteries, which the lat- 
ter invented and patented, 


248 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN 


Franklin returned to Paterson and resumed his 
old place in the electrical fan works. But this was 
not for long. At the end of the first week, Mom- 
bray, the superintendent, came to him and in- 
formed him that he was promoted to the experi- 
mental department, and that Mr. Brice had given 
orders that he should be allowed to pursue his in- 
vestigations as he saw fit. 

This change delighted the young electrician, as it 
gave him an opportunity he had long desired. He 
applied himself diligently to his work, and in the 
course of a year produced several decided improve- 
ments in electrical fans ; and also invented an elec- 
trical burglar alarm, which Belden Brice had pat- 
ented for him, and manufactured at the works; 
paying Franklin a handsome amount on every one 
sold. 

The young electrician was not only determined 
to use his brains and make money, but he was also 
determined to save it. He applied himself strictly 
to business, and at the end of three years had ac- 
cumulated enough to buy a half interest in the 
works from Belden Brice, who had become sole 
owner. Thus the boy who had been nothing but a 
bench hand, developed into a wealthy manufactu- 
rer, and that solely through his own untiring per- 
severance. 

Franklin did not forget his relatives, who had 
now removed to the city where the young electri- 


BOUND TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN. 


249 


dan did business. His Uncle Will is now the head 
bookkeeper at the electrical works, at a good 
round salary, and the family live in an elegant 
home^ which Franklin purchased and furnished out 
of his own pocket. 

The young electrician has many friends, but none 
that is quite so near to his heart as the one he 
saved from death on the railroad. Although Cora 
Bliss resides in Chicago, the two corresponded con- 
stantly ; and perhaps some day Franklin will take 
her under his protection for the remainder of life ; 
who knows?” 

But here we will leave Franklin Bell. Bound To 
Be an Electrician, he has succeeded even beyond 
expectation, so, wishing him all success in the 
future, we will shake him by the hand and say 
adieu. 


THE END. 




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